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Mark Ogden, Senior Writer, ESPN FC
Sources have told ESPN that Liverpool want to complete a deal for Brighton midfielder Alexis McAllister before linking World Cup winners Argentina with his international team-mates ahead of the June 15 friendly against Australia in China.
McAllister, 24, is expected to become Liverpool’s first major signing of the summer transfer window following what sources say are constructive talks with Brighton.
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Sources have told ESPN that the player, who was signed by Brighton from Argentinos Juniors in 2019, is available for a fee of around £50m due to a release clause in the new contract he signed with the club in October 2022.
Liverpool have made recruiting at least two midfielders a priority this summer after the departure of Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at the end of their Anfield contracts.
With captain Jordan Henderson and Thiago both 32 years old and plagued by injuries last season, the need to boost manager Jurgen Klopp’s midfield options at the same time as reducing the average age of midfielders led to the transfer of McAllister, who was a professional player. A key figure in Brighton’s qualification for European competition for the first time in the season that just ended.
Liverpool had originally planned a move for Borussia Dortmund’s Judd Bellingham, but the potential £120m transfer fee for the England international, plus competition from Real Madrid and Manchester City, prompted the club to shift its focus to signing a number of players rather than that. than spending the majority of the budget on a single player.
Sources said that Liverpool also retains the interest of Wolverhampton midfielder Matthews Nunes, Khevren Thuram of Nice, Khevren Thuram of Borussia Mönchengladbach Manu Kone.
Klopp is also interested in a move for Chelsea’s Mason Mount, but sources have told ESPN that Manchester United are the favorites to sign the 24-year-old.
McAllister’s deal is likely to be Liverpool’s first this summer, however, and there is confidence at Anfield that a deal can be struck before the player heads to Asia for Argentina’s meeting with Australia in Beijing and a later meeting with Indonesia in June. 19.
