Brighton are starting to get annoyed with reported Liverpool target Alexis Mac Allister’s desire to leave this summer.
Mac Allister is reportedly one of the names highest up on the Reds list of midfield targets ahead of a big rebuild. And according to 90min, Liverpool are one of the few teams in the running to sign the 24-year-old.
In fact, they claim that Brighton’s £70m price-tag means that Mac Allister is certain to stay in the Premier League. To that end, Liverpool are said to be leading the likes of Tottenham, Newcastle, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United in the race.
With the Argentina international publicly courting a move, Brighton have reportedly become ‘agitated’ with him behind the scenes. Alexis’ father Carlos is also said to be ‘adamant’ that his son will leave The Amex this year.
Despite their irritation though, it’s claimed that Brighton won’t stand in the way of a Mac Allister getting his move. However, it’s reported that any transfer will have to be under the Seagulls ‘conditions.’
Mac Allister on the market
As things stand, all signs point towards Mac Allister moving on from the South Coast this summer. Although he’s made some public noises this week about happily staying at Brighton, that feels like the World Cup winner simply being respectful of his current club.
In his father’s words, it’s ‘most likely’ that Mac Allister will be playing his football somewhere else come September.
Of course, that’s dependent on Brighton’s conditions being met. But if they remain determined to squeeze £70m out of the player they signed for peanuts, then a stalemate may ensue.
Because as good as Mac Allister is – and he is good – he isn’t worth anything like that figure. Yes, Chelsea’s splurge on his Argentina teammate Enzo Fernandez has distorted the market, but Liverpool won’t do business at that price.
It’s also hard to envisage any of the other names on 90min’s list doing the same. Man City could be the ones to watch in that regard, but according to other reports, they’re not one of the key contenders for Mac Allister.
So, all things told, we’d expect the price to come down and Mac Allister to eventually move on. We hope that’ll be to Liverpool, but nothing is done just yet.