If Andoni Iraola wants to focus on areas for Liverpool to improve on their 2025/26 showings, he would do well to start in the midfield.
One of the Reds’ biggest strengths in 2024/25, the middle of the pitch became a glaring weakness for Arne Slot last term, with Alexis Mac Allister in particular struggling to find any kind of form.
There have been rumours that Mac Allister could be sold this summer, and links to Morocco’s Ayyoub Bouaddi as a potential replacement have been mooted as well.
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However, as journalist Ben Jacobs has explained, Lille are ideally looking to strike an agreement with a club this summer which would see them keep Bouaddi until 2027.
With the French club said to be offering a discount for any team willing to agree to those terms, Liverpool could wait a year for the teenager, but the effectiveness of that strategy wholly depends on the level Mac Allister returns to Anfield with this summer.
Lille could offer a €20m Bouaddi discount
Whenever Liverpool are linked with a new player, the idea of waiting a year until we see them in action is never appealing.
Reds fans could not wait to see Naby Keita, for example, when he signed in 2017 ahead of an Anfield arrival one year later, while there has been impatience over Jeremy Jacquet too, bought in January for this summer.
Nevertheless, it can be a smart strategy, and as Jacobs explained to TalkSPORT on Friday, it could shave 20 million Euros off Bouaddi’s already hefty valuation.
“As far as Bouaddi, the excellent Moroccan midfielder, is concerned, my information is that Lille are prepared to sell for 100 million Euros for an instant transfer, or 80 million Euros for a pre-agreement or loan back that would see the player stay at Lille for another year and end up going instead in summer 2027,” he said.
“So, a discount for clubs who are willing to send Bouaddi back to Lille for a further season.”
Jacobs did not mention Liverpool among the clubs looking into such an option, but did indicate that Manchester’s City and United, along with Bayern Munich and Chelsea are keen. The Reds should add themselves to that pile, but only if they think Mac Allister can keep them ticking over next season.
Mac Allister may still need an immediate replacement
Despite rumours that he might be sold, there is no reason for Liverpool to be hasty over Mac Allister.
Though he has only two seasons left on his contract, there is no real harm in the Reds waiting until he has one year left next summer and seeing where the cards are falling.
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With Curtis Jones likely to go this summer, there is potential that Liverpool need a replacement in midfield immediately, but James McConnell, Trey Nyoni and even Stefan Bajcetic could make up the numbers.
The trouble instead, is if Mac Allister remains at the level of last season when he comes back from the World Cup. If that is the case, Liverpool need a new player in straight away.
But if the Argentine can return to his previous levels – for at least another year anyway – they can wait for Bouaddi.
Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz are all elite midfield, or attacking midfield, options for Andoni Iraola if they are at close to their best. Bring Bouaddi in amongst that immediately and he simply would not play.
In one more year things could be different, however, and with another season playing regularly for Lille under his belt, the Moroccan would then be a ready-made swap if Liverpool decide to cash in on Mac Allister before he enters the final year of his deal.
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