Reported Liverpool target Alexis Mac Allister has been told that he’s a joy to watch right now.
Mac Allister has emerged as the Reds’ new top target ahead of the summer transfer window. As a result, plenty of eyes will have been on him last night, as Brighton took on Manchester United. And Alexis didn’t disappoint, smashing home a 99th minute penalty to win the game for the Seagulls.
After the celebrations had died down, the 24-year-old joined former Reds captains Paul Ince and Jamie Redknapp pitch-side for Sky Sports. Both showered Mac Allister with praise, but in quotes from The Mirror, Ince was the one who seemed truly bowled over.
“For me, it’s not just about the goal. Watching you play tonight, it’s your work rate, your passing ability, you’re just an all-round player, you know?” he told the Argentine. “Me and Jamie [Redknapp] have played in midfield and we just loved watching you play because everything you do, you do it correctly. You get back, you get up, you get down, you score goals. It was lovely to watch you play today.” Once Mac Allister left, Ince continued his praise.
“We were standing next to a World Cup winner. Someone who scored in the last minute against Manchester United, but he’s so humble,” explained the 55-year-old. “He’s talking about the young South American kids that he wants to look after – and he’s young himself. But, it’s not about him, it’s about the team ethic and he works within that. He’s happy to tow the line, he’s happy to do the dirty bit of football, but he’s also a very, very talented player.”
Everything Ince says here makes Mac Allister sound like the perfect midfield player for Liverpool. Not just his ability and playing style, but his personality too.
Jurgen Klopp is well known to place plenty of stock in the characters of the players he brings to Anfield. He won’t go out and just bring anyone in. If possible there are background checks done on all potential signings and testimonies gathered from those who know them well.
In those terms, it seems like Mac Allister will pass any scrutiny with flying colours.
Luckily for Klopp and Liverpool, they do have a man on the inside to report back to them. During their years together at Anfield, Adam Lallana became one of Jurgen’s most trusted characters.
At Brighton for the last three years and having seen Mac Allister develop into a World Cup winner, Lallana is well placed to give Liverpool a detailed report. You can’t imagine it would be anything but overwhelmingly positive.
As for his on-pitch quality, that speaks for itself. The Reds wouldn’t want to sign him if the Argentina international was simply a nice guy. Last night he showed exactly why he’s now seemingly top of their list this summer.