Manchester City could yet come into the picture to sign reported Liverpool transfer target Alexis Mac Allister.
The Reds’ interest in Mac Allister has been back-page news over the course of this week. With Liverpool apparently keen to move quickly to snap him up from Brighton, it’s even been claimed that they’ve already offered him a contract proposal.
That pro-activity has seemingly made the Reds the front-runners to sign the 24-year-old. But according to the Liverpool Echo, they’re not the only ones interested.
They claim that both Manchester United and Manchester City could yet rival Liverpool’s efforts. City could reportedly be looking for their own midfield revamp as the futures of Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva remain in doubt. They, like Liverpool, also look set to miss out on Jude Bellingham. As a result, Mac Allister is said to be on their radar.
Right now though, Liverpool appear to be pushing the hardest. The Echo report that the Reds have placed the Argentinian ‘near the top’ of their wish-list this summer. Other names are also said to be under consideration, though. As they frequently have been, Ryan Gravenberch, Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher are put forward as other options.
Alexis set to make transfer decision
If City do come in for Mac Allister, then it’s unfortunately hard to see how Liverpool win out here. Likely to be without Champions League football next season, the Reds hand is set to be severely weakened.
City will have no such trouble. And with a midfield rebuild of his own potentially taking place, Pep Guardiola could even offer the ‘fantastic’ World Cup winner a regular starting spot.
As a result, Liverpool will be relying on Mac Allister to see the potential on offer at Anfield. He has the opportunity to be a big part of the Reds next great team. Big shirt numbers are available at the club next year and he could step into one to become a key player. Whether or not that’s enough, we’ll have to wait and see.
Yesterday brought the good news that Liverpool are looking to advance things with the player and his agents. But on the flip-side, it’s been reported that Mac Allister is planning to wait until the end of the season to assess his options.
Right now, it seems like the Reds are the only concrete option. But if he doesn’t commit, he could well get further offers, like City, that do offer the prospect of playing in the Champions League – a competition Alexis is yet to play in.
There will be a portion of supporters who will say they don’t want a player who isn’t sure about Liverpool. And there is good logic to that. It would be great if Mac Allister was all-in from the off. With the summer window yet to even open though, you can’t blame him for taking his time.