Liverpool clinch deal for Mac Allister

Liverpool are bracing themselves for a busy summer as they contemplate a major squad revamp but it looks as though on piece of the jigsaw could already be in place. According to Football Insider, the Reds have an agreement in place with Brighton for Argentine midfielder Alexis Mac Allister.

The 24-year-old, a World Cup winner with Argentina, will be the Merseyside club’s first reinforcement of the transfer window, opens at midnight on Wednesday 14 June 2023.

Release clause triggered

It is reported that Mac Allister, who was seen bidding Brighton an emotional farewell after the team’s final game of the season against Aston Villa, has “made up his mind” about where he wants to play next season. Football Insider claim that Liverpool will pay the Seagulls a transfer fee of around £60 million for the Argentinean - a price above his market value (£40 million) and several times the £5 million fee which the coastal club initially paid Boca Juniors for the player in January 2019.

Like Brighton, the player will also benefit from his move to Anfield, Football Insider add that he will triple his salary, earning a wage in the region of £150,000-per-week. Mac Allister scored 12 goals and set up another three in 40 league and Cup appearances last season.

The news of Mac Allister’s capture comes less than 24 hours after Liverpool confirmed the appointment of Jörg Schmadtke as the club’s new sporting director. The 59-year-old German, who spent four years in a similar role with Wolfsburg, takes over from Julian Ward, who shocked the institution back in November by announcing that he would be quitting the role once the season had ended.

Schmadtke, who officially starts work tomorrow, will be in charge of a significant rebuild and finding replacements for a number of first team squad members who are moving on. Roberto Firmino, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and James Milner are departing with Fabio Carvalho set to be loaned out.