Liverpool sign midfielder Alexis Mac Allister for around £60m

LFC fans breathe a sigh of relief as the club finally addresses midfield needs

Alexis Mac Allister is on his way to Anfield. Liverpool and Brighton have officially agreed a deal for the midfielder worth around £60 million.

The Argentine World Cup winner will now undergo a medical before replacing one of Liverpool’s three departing midfielders (Keita, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Milner).   

Liverpool desperately needed a new midfielder and Mac Allister – a proven Premier League player – will slot right into the side. A midfield featuring the likes of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, and Mac Allister could start the next Premier League campaign. Although Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, and Stefan Bajcetic will all three push for regular minutes – especially after Jones’ fantastic end to 2022-23.   

Mac Allister is a major upgrade for the Reds. He appeared in 35 Premier League games last season, missing out on just three matches. Two of those missed games were due to celebrating Argentina’s World Cup win in December.   

Liverpool’s midfield was fragile last season on and off the pitch. Injuries affected the position with Thiago, Fabinho, Henderson, Bajcetic, and Jones missing significant parts of the campaign. Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain barely featured for Jurgen Klopp due to their injury and form problems. Their lack of playing time made it seems like they didn’t even exist in 2022-23.   

Mac Allister’s strong fitness will be a huge boost to the side. Along with playing nearly every game in the league, the Argentine racked up 10 goals, two-thirds of which were penalties, and two assists. His 10 goals in the league were a career-high.   

Mac Allister was also key in Brighton’s FA Cup run to the semifinals. He played in five cup matches, scoring two goals and assisting one. Mac Allister is the ideal player for Liverpool to sign and could get the No 8 shirt previously worn by Keita and some bloke named Steven Gerrard.  

Liverpool supporters were disappointed in the club’s decision to shift focus from Jude Bellingham to other transfer targets. But Mac Allister will arrive at Anfield for half the cost of Bellingham. The Reds could then use funds to sign another midfielder and potentially a centre-back, which is desperately needed. 

Fans will want Liverpool to continue spending on the midfield. The improved form and fitness of Jones along with the return of Bajcetic in preseason could see Liverpool turn their attention elsewhere, however. Meanwhile, Elliot will be ready to go once more and Thiago will return from a groin injury that ended his 2022-23 campaign prematurely.   

Mason Mount and Ryan Gravenbach were rumoured as potential targets. The former seems more likely to end up elsewhere, and the latter’s future is up in the air after Bayern sacked their CEO and sporting director following a final day of the season title win.   

A sigh of relief will be heard coming from Merseyside once Mac Allister officially puts pen to paper. The Reds have finally addressed their midfield. It is a great start, but Klopp needs a few more pieces to the puzzle for next season.