Brighton's World Cup winning hero Alexis Mac Allister has been heavily linked with a move away from the Amex, with the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal all credited with an interest in the 24-year-old's services.
Mac Allister started all but one game for Argentina as they won the World Cup and his impressive displays in Qatar and for Brighton have sparked heavy speculation about his future. The midfielder's father, Carlos, recently revealed Mac Allister is "most likely" to leave Brighton this summer.
"Normally the next [transfer window] will find him playing in another institution, we don't know which one," he told Puro Boca, as per bolavip. "The talks are just beginning in general, but it is most likely that Alexis will already be playing in another team next July."
Certainly several Premier League clubs will be in the market for midfield reinforcements this summer. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp admitted last month they "need players" with the likes of James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all out of contract at the end of the season, with the latter pair in particular looking likely to leave.
With the Merseysiders having pulled out of the race to sign Borussia Dortmund and England midfielder Jude Bellingham, Mac Allister has emerged as a potential alternative. He ticks a lot of boxes for Klopp, with his technical ability, reading of the game and comes with Premier League experience; at a time when Liverpool need hits not misses in the market, that could be a major help.
United, meanwhile, are also keen to add depth to their midfield with Marcel Sabitzer's future uncertain when his loan spell ends and Scott McTominay linked with an exit. Newcastle United are keen on the Scotland international, who has struggled to make his mark under Erik ten Hag.
Brighton have shown they are willing to do business with Premier League rivals - but only when the price is right. They banked a whopping £56m from Chelsea for Marc Cucurella last summer, while they held out for £50m when Arsenal signed Ben White in 2021.
However, they did refuse to let Moises Caicedo make the switch to the Emirates in January despite a public plea from the midfielder and he ended up signing a new long-term deal with the club. Tony Bloom is no fool and is as good at transfer poker as he was around the tables.
Mac Allister is under contract with Brighton until at least 2025, having signed a new contract mere months before the World Cup, and Seagulls chief Paul Barber is relaxed about the situation.
"Of course, we're very aware that when any of our players, when any of our staff, do well, they're going to attract interest from bigger clubs, wealthier clubs," he said in December. "We're very conscious of that. But we want to keep Alexis here as long as we can."
Mac Allister wants to move upwards and increasingly test himself against the elite. There will be no shortage of suitors, but Brighton have shown that they'll negotiate for the best deal possible.
