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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Stephen Killen

Alexis Mac Allister possible shirt number as Liverpool transfer edges closer

Alexis Mac Allister is set to become Liverpool's first signing of the summer in the coming days, subject to a medical.

The Argentina international will pen a long-term deal at Anfield, thus ending his spell at the AMEX Stadium on the south coast as a busy period begins for Jurgen Klopp, the departing sporting director Julian Ward and his successor Jorg Schmadtke.

This season, the Reds' engine room has been subject to criticism as Liverpool struggled to maintain the standards they set during their quest for the quadruple. Criticism was aimed at the likes of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho before they turned their season around with a number of important wins - ending the campaign unbeaten in 11 games.

With a squad overhaul billed, Anfield waved goodbye to four members of their trophy-laden spell under the German tactician, three of which were selection options in midfield.

READ MORE: Alexis Mac Allister transfer moves closer as Liverpool target set for medical

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James Milner's eight-year stint on Merseyside came to an end with his contract expiring. Meanwhile, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also saw their current terms run out.

Their departures leave the numbers 7, 8 and 13 available. Roberto Firmino is another whose Reds career comes to an end this summer, this will leave the number 9 free for the first time 2016 when he took over the iconic Liverpool shirt number following the departure of Christian Benteke.

Mac Allister has had a number of shirt numbers throughout his career spanning from his time in his native Argentina to his spell with the Seagulls.

At the beginning at AA Argentinos Juniors, he held a number of different shirt numbers occupying 16, 15, 14, 13, 10, nine and eight before moving up to 28 for a season.

He returned to the number 10 during his final two years prior to his move to Boca Juniors where he was handed the number eight shirt. Throughout his time with Brighton, he has maintained the number 10 shirt.

A possible opportunity for him to get his dream number remains as 10 has been vacant since Sadio Mane's exit last summer. The 24-year-old could follow fellow South American midfielder, Philippe Coutinho, who occupied the shirt number between 2012 and 2018.

The ECHO previously reported that there was hope that the deal for the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder can be concluded before he joins up with Argentina. La Albiceleste are due to rekindle in the next week ahead of their friendlies with Australia and Indonesia.

Arthur Melo will relinquish the number 29 at the end of his loan deal at Anfield. Much of the 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s are available with Joel Matip, Stefan Bajcetic, Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips occupying 32, 43, 46 and 47 respectively.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has the highest shirt number of all the first-team regulars with his iconic 66.

Full list of numbers available: 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 16, 24, 25, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44, 45, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 63, 64, 65, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99.

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