After months of speculation about a whole host of players, Liverpool look to have sealed their first transfer of the summer: Brighton’s World Cup winner, Alexis Mac Allister.
Paul Joyce of The Times reported this morning that the Reds are expecting to complete the move this week. During our Journo Insight Show with Neil Jones, transfer king Fabrizio Romano gave the move his seal of approval with a trademark ‘here we go!’
Romano also reported that the fee would be ‘way less’ than the previously quoted £60million, with some insiders suggesting it could be around the £45million mark.
On the latest episode of our Journo Insight Show, we asked Neil for his reaction to the Mac Allister news.
MAC ALLISTER FULL AGREEMENT COMPLETE! | Liverpool Transfer News Update
Neil said:
“I think £60million would probably be a decent deal. If it’s anything less, I think you’re looking at a very good deal for Liverpool.
“It does suggest Liverpool have done some decent homework – got the deal that they would like, in terms of the price and the ability to get him out.
“I said explicitly last week I expect Mac Allister to become a Liverpool player. It looks like it’s getting closer and closer.
“Very exciting, I think, for Liverpool fans. I think it would be a very good start to the summer. I wouldn’t say it would solve all their problems in one fell swoop, but it would be a good start to what looks like it’s going to be a big summer.
“If you’re replacing… any of those three, really: Milner, Keita or Oxlade-Chamberlain – with Mac Allister – it is an upgrade squad-wise.
“It’s a Champions League player for me. It’s a player that belongs in the Champions League, probably would have had opportunities to be in the Champions League this season. Now he’s going to hopefully join a team that’s in the Europa League and help them get back there.
“Like I said – it’s a very positive start to the summer.”
A very positive piece of business for Liverpool. After the public abandonment of the Jude Bellingham transfer, it was vital that the club act quickly and bring in players of proven quality. Mac Allister has had the season of his life, becoming one of the Premier League’s best midfielders as well as improving an Argentina side that went on to win the World Cup. A good all-round midfielder who can carry out a variety of different plans for his manager, the 24-year-old should be expected to slot straight into a Reds side that has looked short of energy and creativity at points this season. The club have done well to exploit an apparent release clause (or ‘mechanism’ in the words of the Athletic’s David Ornstein) which means that the fee is much lower than the previously discussed figures. Brighton are known to drive a hard bargain, which makes this an even better bit of business. ¡Bienvenidos a Liverpool, Ally Mac!
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