Alexis Mac Allister says someone other than Jurgen Klopp was key to him joining Liverpool

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Liverpool had one of the best transfer windows in their history in the summer of 2023.

Having just finished fifth in the Premier League, the Reds had a daunting task ahead of them to totally revamp their midfield.

Even worse, they had to do it all without a permanent sporting director. Julian Ward was on the way out after only a year in charge, leaving Liverpool to appoint Jorg Schmadtke on a temporary contract.

In the end Schmadtke delivered. It is not an exaggeration to say that the German will always be remembered fondly at Anfield for signing Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch all in one summer.

Since their respective arrivals, each player has gone on to be key to the Liverpool squad in different ways.

However, it turns out that Schmadtke alone cannot take the credit for each of those transfers, and according to Mac Allister, neither can Jurgen Klopp.

Alexis Mac Allister credits Julian Ward

It is a decent debate which of Liverpool’s four signings was their best from this window. After season one, it was surely Mac Allister. But Gravenberch is really testing that theory now.

Whoever comes out on top, it’s clear that Mac Allister has been an exceptional addition. Signed for only £35m from Brighton, he has become a fixture in the Liverpool midfield.

But according to the man himself, it was the outgoing Ward, not Schmadtke who joined forces with Klopp to convince him that Liverpool was the right move for him.

“I would tell you that Jurgen Klopp along with Julian Ward, they are the two most important people for me to be at Liverpool,” Mac Allister told Argentine outlet La Media Ingelsa.

READ MORE: Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister reaches out to Man United defender Lisandro Martinez after season-ending injury

“They were the two who were very interested in me.

“Before signing I had a chat with Klopp as well and that was also very important for me, especially knowing that they really want you.”

Mac Allister recalls Klopp feeling

Ward deserves praise for making sure Liverpool got their man just before his exit in 2023. The work was clearly being done to bring Mac Allister to Anfield long before it was eventually announced in June.

But despite all the work of the former sporting director – who is now back at the club as part of Michael Edwards’ team – Mac Allister suggests that Klopp was still the decisive factor.

“One thing is to go to a big club because, I don’t know, you won a World Cup, you have a name,” says the 26-year-old.

“And another thing is to know the coach truly loves you and that you’re going to feel important, you’re going to play.

“When I talked to him [Klopp] that was what he transmitted to me, what I felt at least. That made it very important that I was able to be here and also the fact of being able to work with him and learn from him.”