Liverpool complete cut-price deal for Brighton's Mac Allister - Reports
ANFIELD-BOUND: Brighton and Hove Albion's Alexis Mac Allister.
Liverpool are understood to have completed a cut-price deal for Brighton and Hove Albion's Argentinian midfielder Alexis Mac Allister.
The fee - believed to be in the region of £35 million - is much lower than the expected cost for a player in the ilk of Mac Allister.
Trusted transfer guru Fabrizio Romano tweeted on Wednesday morning, noting the completion of a medical for the midfield dynamo: "Liverpool have just signed Alexis Mac Allister for… £35m.
"LFC have now triggered the clause to sign the midfielder after medical tests completed with Brighton’s permission.
"Documents are being signed. Here we go confirmed."
Upon confirmation of the deal, newly-appointed Liverpool sporting director Jörg Schmadtke will likely turn his attention to other possible midfield recruits. The club are understood to have made contact with both Khephren Thuram of Nice, and Manu Kone of Borrusia Monchengladbach.
Elsewhere, Manchester United have identified the Napoli centre-back Kim Min-jae as their main target to strengthen in defence. The South Korea international’s release clause will be valid in July and United are in contact with his agents.
Newcastle are also interested in the 26-year-old, who joined Napoli from Fenerbahce last July and was an important part of their Serie A title success. Manchester United are understood to be monitoring the French market for fallback options if they do not land Kim, who played in South Korea and China before moving to Turkey in 2021.
This will be a busy transfer window for Erik ten Hag and he is ready to allow players including Harry Maguire, Dean Henderson and Donny van de Beek to leave. United’s manager does not intend to keep Wout Weghorst, who has been on loan from Burnley. The striker has attracted interest from Everton and clubs in Spain and Germany and would cost about £8.5m.
Maguire is due to discuss his future with Ten Hag next week and there is a mutual realisation that a parting of the ways would be best. Maguire has fallen down the pecking order at United and the pursuit of Kim is another indication that his future lies elsewhere. The 30-year-old wants regular football, which he knows would strengthen his chances of keeping his England place.
Van de Beek is to explore transfer options after failing to hold down a place, going on loan to Everton and missing most of this season through injury. With United trying to strengthen in midfield and in talks over a deal for Chelsea’s Mason Mount, Van de Beek accepts it time to leave and expects to be fit for pre-season training.
The United goalkeeper Dean Henderson is close to joining Nottingham Forest, where he was on loan this season, on a permanent deal.
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