Liverpool are set to pay Alexis Mac Allister’s release clause ‘in the next few days’ and are hopeful of ‘concluding a deal this week’ for the Brighton midfielder in what will be Jurgen Klopp’s first signing of the summer.
The Reds have identified midfield as a key area to strengthen and have moved fast to land the World Cup winner, who will almost certainly be playing at Anfield next season.
Mac Allister is thought to be the first of as many as three midfielders that could arrive on Merseyside this summer, and is set to cost ‘much less’ than the initial £60m reported fee, with a release clause reportedly written into his Brighton contract to allow him to depart for a fraction of that.
According to the Times, ‘the value of the deal remains uncertain with a range of fees from £45 million through to £55 million’ having been reported,
‘Contact between Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion has now taken place and midfielder Mac Allister is keen to work with Jürgen Klopp’, they add, with a deal expected to be completed in the coming days.
Meanwhile, Mac Allister is expected to sign a five year deal on Merseyside, with medicals to take place in the next 24-48 hours.
He is expected to be the first of several departures at the AMEX Stadium, with fellow midfielder Moises Caicedo also wanted by plenty of sides in England including Chelsea and Arsenal.
One target who won’t be moving to Anfield, however, is Mason Mount. The Chelsea man was thought to be one of Jurgen Klopp’s top targets, but is now in talks with Manchester United over a potential departure from Stamford Bridge.
Liverpool have also been linked with moves for Manu Kone and Kephren Thuram this summer, though nothing is thought to be advanced for another midfielder.
