Alexis Mac Allister Set to Stay at Liverpool Amid Transfer Rumors

Alexis Mac Allister is set to remain at Liverpool despite rumors of a potential transfer to Real Madrid. The 27-year-old midfielder, who played a crucial role in Argentina's World Cup final appearance, will not be leaving the club anytime soon.

What happened?

Reports emerged in South America that Mac Allister, whose Anfield contract expires in June 2028, did not want to return to Merseyside and had his heart set on a €100m move to Real Madrid. However, Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has shut down these rumors, emphasizing the club's desire to retain the midfielder.

Why it matters for Alexis Mac Allister

Mac Allister has been one of the best players for Liverpool in the past three years, and his performance in the World Cup has only added to his value. Iraola has made it clear that the club is counting on Mac Allister, and that he is an integral part of the team's plans.

What comes next?

Iraola is looking to strengthen the squad through new signings, and the club is expected to make a number of transfers in the coming weeks. The Liverpool head coach has pointed to the contract extension received by Dominik Szoboszlai as a signal of the club's ambition, and he is eager to add more talent to the squad.

Liverpool's pre-season tour is set to continue with a game against Sunderland in Nashville on Saturday, and Mac Allister is expected to be part of the team. The midfielder will have a full three weeks to recover from his exertions in North America, and he will not be ready for the new Premier League campaign.

Iraola has also confirmed that the club is looking to sign a right-winger as soon as possible, and there is a sense that the transfer market will start to pick up in the coming weeks. Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Ryan Gravenberch are expected to join the squad next week, and they may have some involvement in the second friendly against Wrexham in New York on July 30.

The remaining World Cup players, including Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, and Alisson Becker, will also return to training next Monday. However, they will be spared the transatlantic flight and will begin their programmes at Liverpool's AXA training ground instead.

Alisson had been linked with Juventus earlier in the summer, but Iraola has confirmed that the Brazil international will be his No 1. The delicate nature of the squad was highlighted when Iraola confirmed that it is unlikely that Hugo Ekitike or Conor Bradley will play again this calendar year, while Giovanni Leoni is still not in full training.

"It's taken them months to recover," Iraola said of the injured players. "And then apart from those three, we have Stefan [Bajcetic] and Wataru [Endo] that are close to getting to training with the group. They will even start on this tour-Stefan and Wataru-training not fully maybe, but partially with the group."

category: club_news