Alexis Mac Allister has emerged as a primary target for Liverpool as manager Jurgen Klopp looks to plot a return to the Champions League next season.
The Reds have faced competition from Manchester City and Manchester United for Mac Allister but it now appears they are close to striking a deal for the Brighton & Hove Albion and Argentina star.
Liverpool are expected to finalise the signing of the 24-year-old this week, making him Jurgen Klopp's first piece of business for the summer transfer window.
Below is a round-up of reports and developments, with the most recent first...
MAC ALLISTER MEDICAL COMPLETED
We reported yesterday that Alexis Mac Allister had been given permission by Brighton to under go his Liverpool medical. And now there's been an update.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano has told his £15m followers that the medical is done and the World Cup is due to sign a five-year contract today.
Romano wrote: "Alexis Mac Allister has completed the medical tests as new Liverpool player — set to sign the contract today. Long term deal will be valid until June 2028."
MAC ALLISTER FEE EXPLAINED
When Liverpool were still in the race to sign Jude Bellingham, it was widely expected that the England international would cost a world-record fee well in excess of £100m.
As a result, after the Reds withdrew interest in favour of signing a number of quality new midfielders rather than one marquee addition, supporters were understandably unimpressed when it emerged that Real Madrid were reportedly set to sign the 19-year-old for an initial £85m.
How could Liverpool not afford such a fee, was the simplistic question. After all, the Reds had committed to parting with a potential £85m to land Darwin Nunez only last summer. Yet, the agreed deal with Benfica cost £64m without add-ons. As a result, Virgil van Dijk currently remains the only player to have cost more than £65m in the club’s history.
Still, fees of £60m-£70m were still being branded about for the likes of rumoured targets Alexis Mac Allister and Mason Mount. Surely, even without the riches of Champions League football, it would not have been breaking the bank to stretch funds that little bit more to lure Bellingham to Anfield?
Read the full story, here.
MEDICAL BOOKED FOR MAC ALLISTER
Alexis Mac Allister is set to undergo his medical ahead of a move to Liverpool.
Mac Allister is currently on holiday in Miami enjoying a post-season break before meeting up with his international colleagues for a friendly with Australia on June 15 in Beijing, but the 24-year-old has been granted permission to have a medical with Liverpool ahead of a move which the club hope to formally conclude this week.
LIVERPOOL SET FOR CUT-PRICE MAC ALLISTER MOVE
Liverpool have made their move in the summer transfer window as Alexis Mac Allister looks set to become the newest hero for the Kop to sing about.
For weeks now, Reds fans have been hearing rumours everyday about the proposed move for the Argentina World Cup winner and the deal is now set to come to a close.
The Mirrors David Maddock is reporting the fee Liverpool will pay Brighton for the 24-year-old is 'thought to be below £50 million.'
"It is not a straight release clause, with the provision stipulating not a fixed fee, but a figure dependent on several factors, including the current status of the interested party. But it is understood that Liverpool have now settled on a figure which is acceptable to Brighton under the wording of the clause, and will pay a fee thought to be below £50m."
ADAM LALLANA PRAISES 'SPECIAL' MAC ALLISTER AHEAD OF LIVERPOOL MOVE
Former Liverpool midfielder and current team-mate of Alexis Mac Allister, Adam Lallana, has heaped praise on the Argentine ahead of a potential move to Anfield.
Lallana has been hugely impressed by Mac Allister as the World Cup winner is set to complete a move to Anfield in the coming days.
Speaking to Graham Hunter on The Big Interview podcast in January, Lallana, asked about Mac Allister's exponential rise, said: "Alexis, what a special player and a special, special person. It took him a little time to settle. Learning the language. His English is incredible now and he's picked it up. He's a player that is so pure in how he plays. The way he lends the football, he uses others. There's no selfishness at all in the way he plays.
"It was so special watching him during the World Cup. Not playing to begin with and then him getting used; proving himself; and then playing so well that there's no way this guy doesn't play; and then at the end to see Messi looking for him. Like Messi was looking for him to link, to play.
"Alexis' role was to almost mirror where Messi was. Whether Messi was deep, he would take high positions. If Messi was high, he would drop. That just shows how much he understands - his football intelligence. Ok, he's not the quickest or the strongest but up here [points to his head] he's like [Luka] Modric. He's not the quickest or the strongest, but he's so smart. He knows that the football is faster than anyone, [or] anything."
Read the full story HERE
LIVERPOOL CLOSE TO COMPLETING MAC ALLISTER TRANSFER AS DETAILS OVER DEAL EMERGE
Liverpool hope to conclude a deal with Brighton for Alexis Mac Allister before the Argentina midfielder heads off on international duty as they close in on their first transfer of the summer.
The Reds have been keen to move quickly following the end of an underwhelming campaign that saw them finish fifth in the Premier League - the lowest of any full season under Jurgen Klopp - and Mac Allister has been earmarked as the priority.
Talks have now taken place between Liverpool and Brighton. And it's understood the player's representatives are in England to thrash out a deal the Reds are confident of wrapping up before Mac Allister heads off to play for the World Cup winners against Australia on June 15.
Paul Gorst has the full story.
ALEXIS MAC ALLISTER FEE DISCUSSED
Liverpool will pay 'way less' than the £70million price tag being reported to bring Alexis Mac Allister to Anfield.
The Argentine midfielder is being strongly linked with a move to the Reds, who are expected to trigger the release clause of the 24-year-old to get a deal over the line. Recent reports have suggested this fee would be in the region of £70m, though this has now been rubbished by Fabrizio Romano.
The Italian journalist has suggested the sum Liverpool will pay be far lower than this figure and will represent a 'very good deal' for the club.
MAC ALLISTER TALKS PROGRESSING AFTER LIVERPOOL TELL BRIGHTON WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR
The full-time whistle at Villa Park was the catalyst for an emotional, tear-stained moment that all but confirmed Alexis Mac Allister's next move as a Brighton player.
As the World Cup-winning midfielder ended his historic campaign, having already inspired the Seagulls to European qualification for the first time, Mac Allister couldn't help but be moved by the scale of it all before he was hugged on the pitch by his manager Roberto De Zerbi following a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa.
It is also understood that the Reds are not the only club showing a keen interest in the Argentina international, with Manchester United reportedly one of those who will contest the battle for the World Cup winner's signature.
With Bellingham increasingly likely to end up at Real Madrid following reports in Spanish media this week of a firm breakthrough in their attempts to sign the England international from Borussia Dortmund, the prospect of Manchester City entering the Mac Allister chase is also a possibility as speculation over both Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gunodgan's respective futures continue at the Etihad.
Mac Allister, who struck a stoppage-time penalty as Brighton beat United 1-0 at the Amex Stadium on Thursday, signed a new contract on the south coast in late October, less than two months before he starred for Argentina at the Qatar World Cup. It's unclear if the terms contained a release clause, which could complicate matters given Moises Caicedo is another Brighton midfielder who is likely to come in for strong interest from elsewhere in the Premier League.
Anfield sources have so far remained tight-lipped on how much a potential deal for Mac Allister might cost as they go about spreading their budget across a number of midfield options but reports on Thursday morning suggested the club had already begun sounding out the relevant parties over a deal at the end of the season.
Read the latest, here.
MAC ALLISTER'S COUSIN HAS JUST GIVEN THE GAME AWAY ABOUT LIVERPOOL TRANSFER
The cousin of Alexis Mac Allister has dropped a major hint the Brighton midfielder is Liverpool-bound this summer.
Talks are progressing well between the two clubs behind the scenes as the Reds look to strengthen their midfield department by recruiting the World Cup winner during the transfer window.
Mac Allister was careful not to comment on his future when writing a message on social media to supporters of the Seagulls earlier this week, though his cousin may well have given the game away after being posed a question on the 24-year-old.
Luciano Guaycochea, who is seven years Mac Allister's senior, currently represents Malaysian club Perak and has been discussing the next step for his in-demand relative. Asked to tell the Brighton No.10 to join Liverpool, Guaycochea responded: "I cannot say where he is going to play, but I think everyone knows it's close to Liverpool. It is a big team. Everywhere he goes, I hope he can play good."
Read the full story from Tom Cavilla, here.
MAC ALLISTER BREAKS SILENCE ON LIVERPOOL LINKS
Alexis Mac Allister spoke out this week for the first time on a potential Liverpool transfer.
The Argentine admitted that he was keen to stay in the Premier League but remained "calm" about his future.
"I am very calm because I also have the possibility of being in a club like Brighton that accompanied me at all times and in which I really enjoy being," he said, speaking to Miami-based Argentine news outlet Infobae.
"If I do not have to leave the club I will continue to be very happy there, but I am aware that there are possibilities (to move) and if a good offer arrives for the club and for me we will evaluate it.
"I have no doubts that (the Premier League) is the best league to play in and that is why I am aware that I would like my next club to be in the Premier. I really enjoy being there."
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MAC ALLISTER TRANSFER LATEST AS LIVERPOOL SET FOR MANCHESTER CITY AND MANCHESTER UNITED COMPETITION
Liverpool will face competition from Manchester City as the battle for Brighton's Alexis Mac Allister gets set to intensify.
Having taken the decision earlier this year to move away from a pursuit of the £130m-rated Jude Bellingham at Borussia Dortmund, the Reds have earmarked Argentina international Mac Allister as one of their primary targets ahead of a critical summer at Anfield.
Liverpool, however, are already facing competition from top-four rivals Manchester United in their pursuit of the 2022 World Cup winner and recently-crowned Premier League champions City are now reportedly keen on the 24-year-old Mac Allister.
The midfielder has been a standout performer for a Brighton side who are closing in on Europa League qualification and while Mac Allister's efforts have led to both the Reds and United identifying him as a key target for the upcoming window, widespread reports in the national press on Monday evening have also revealed Pep Guardiola admiration.
Read the full story of both Manchester club's interest, here.
ALEXIS MAC ALLISTER TRANSFER: LIVERPOOL STANCE, POTENTIAL FEE AND WHEN DEAL COULD BE DONE
Liverpool have placed Alexis Mac Allister near the top of their transfer shortlist this summer but are braced for competition as the race hots up for the Brighton midfielder.
The Reds recently took the decision to step away from a club-record pursuit of the £130m-rated Jude Bellingham in favour of spreading their transfer budget for the summer across a handful of other, less expensive options and Mac Allister is one of those that fits the bill.
Bayern Munich's Ryan Gravenberch, Chelsea duo Conor Gallagher and Mason Mount are three others under consideration, while the Reds have also been linked in connection with Florentino Luis at Benfica and Sporting Lisbon's Uruguay international Manuel Ugarte.
The list of options is longer this season than it would typically be at this stage of the campaign as Jurgen Klopp plans to bring in a number of reinforcements for his engine room, but the ECHO understands that Mac Allister features prominently for Liverpool as they go about plotting an expensive rebuild of a midfield department that is set to lose James Milner, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and loanee Arthur Melo at the end of the campaign.
Read the full story from Paul Gorst on Liverpool's initial interest in Mac Allister, here.
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