Virgil van Dijk has backed Alexis Mac Allister to help Liverpool get 'back to where we all want to be' - but Newcastle United are also working on bringing in an international midfielder of their own.
Mac Allister has become Liverpool's first signing of the summer after the World Cup winner completed his £35m move from Brighton. That fee could rise to £55m for Mac Allister, who Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth knows very well, having even personally negotiated the Argentine's early return to Brighton from a loan spell at Boca Juniors in 2020 during his time as the Seagulls' technical director.
The move certainly won't have come as a surprise to senior figures at Newcastle. Eddie Howe, for one, is well-aware that Newcastle 'have to improve quickly' because other clubs that 'did not have the season they wanted will come back fighting' and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has already vowed that his side will be a 'contender' next season.
READ MORE: Jude Bellingham reveals sales pitches truth as Newcastle target James Maddison wows in training
Newcastle are also targeting elite players, themselves, after returning to the Champions League for the first time in 20 years, and Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella and Leicester City attacking midfielder James Maddison are among the club's top targets. As far as van Dijk is concerned, Liverpool have already secured one in Mac Allister.
"He's a very good player," the Liverpool defender told reporters. "We've played against him many times. Also with Holland against Argentina.
"He will definitely be a big addition and something we need in order to be back to where we all want to be. It's a good start to the transfer window.
"Hopefully, we get a couple more quality additions. He's definitely one of the players that can hopefully make a difference for us in the next couple of years."
