Liverpool head into Sunday’s fixture against Arsenal with the positive news that Thiago Alcântara and Luis Díaz are back in first-team training. Díaz is unlikely to make an appearance after a long injury layoff, but there is some hope that Thiago may make a return after two months out.
The Reds have struggled for form and fitness in midfield all season, with the likes of Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also out for long periods. Both players look set to leave on a free transfer in June. One of many players linked as a possible replacement is Brighton’s, Alexis Mac Allister. Argentinian journalist César Luis Merlo this week linked the World Cup winner with a £61 million move away from the south coast, with Liverpool being among those interested.
On the latest episode of our Journo Insight Show, we asked goal.com’s Neil Jones for his thoughts on the story.
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Neil said:
“[A] player who goes straight into Liverpool’s team. Alexis Mac Allister does a bit of everything. You look at the goals, he certainly takes a good penalty as well and strikes the ball from outside the box. He’s got that in his locker. He’s played deeper, he’s played number 10. He stands up pretty well in the off-the-ball metrics that you look at, in terms of winning possession, tackles, interceptions, and gets about the pitch.
“He’s a winner, isn’t he? He’s won the biggest prize of all in football, so he’s obviously capable of playing with that kind of pressure and that kind of expectation on him.
“I think he’ll cost, but I think he’s one of them that if you were looking to spend that kind of money on a midfielder, I think he’s getting to the stage where you’d think, ‘Do you know what, he’s a bit of a guarantee.’ He’s someone who I think is getting to the level where he’s worth £60/65/70million.
“What’s clear is at least two midfielders are leaving. At least two, probably more, are going to be signed. I think that we can be pretty sure that they will be players who can come in immediately and impact the first team – because they have to – and I think he’s one.”
REDMEN REACTS
Mac Allister – who was described as a ‘very intelligent’ player by compatriot Sergio Aguero – would certainly add some much-needed quality to the Liverpool midfield. His all-round game would suit a classic Klopp system, where players are expected to do their fair share in both attacking and defensive phases.
The major sticking point, as ever, would be cost. Brighton are very good at extracting the maximum possible fee from a buying club, so FSG would have to agree to spend more in one window than ever before if the club are to land both Jude Bellingham and Mac Allister. If, as we all hope, Bellingham can be convinced to join the Reds, a £60+ million outlay on another midfielder seems unlikely.
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