Alexis Mac Allister’s move to Liverpool has moved a step closer after he was given the green light to undertake his medical by his current club Brighton.
Mirror Football understands the Argentina international midfielder has already started the testing process, and is likely to complete his checks on Wednesday, after Liverpool agreed in principle a fee to sign him.
If he passes the stringent medical then the Reds are looking to announce what is seen as something of a transfer coup by the end of the week, with the 24-year-old due to fly back to his home country for international duty at the weekend.
The World Cup winner has already agreed the outline of a five-year contract, with Liverpool now looking to tie up the details of a clause he had inserted in his Brighton deal, which allowed him to speak to certain big clubs. It is not a straightforward release clause for a set fee, but rather one which gives his south coast club a limited influence on the final price.
Liverpool have always been keen on paying performance-related add-ons in any deal they negotiate, and such an agreement would be a way to offer Brighton the figure they would like for Mac Allister. Talks have been cordial between the two clubs, and the fact that Mac Allister has been allowed to start his medical illustrates that an agreement has been reached, at a fee which is thought to be somewhere between £45-50million initially.
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The medical is likely to be completed on Wednesday, which would give Liverpool time to tie up any loose ends on the deal before announcing his signing by the end of the week.
Boss Jurgen Klopp is keen to get the Argentine in place as early as possible so he can finalise his plans for pre-season, and complete the pieces of his midfield rebuild this summer.
Mac Allister had signed a two-year extension to his Brighton contract in October before he departed for the Qatar World Cup, but with the end of his deal barely six months away, he was left in the strong position of being able to insert the clause which allowed him to speak to Liverpool at the end of the campaign.
The midfielder had interest from other clubs including Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain but chose to join Klopp’s rebuilding programme at Anfield, even though the Merseyside club can not provide Champions League football next season.
Mac Allister appeared to say goodbye to Brighton on social media. "It was an honour to represent Brighton & Hove Albion FC in a World Cup but to become the first-ever World Cup winner for this club it will be unforgettable (hopefully you will have more), as it will be your welcome after it,” he wrote on Instagram.
"3 years and a half ago, we were fighting for relegation and today, after so much sacrifice, suffering and work, this group will be in the history of this club for becoming the first time this club will play Europe League. We achieved it all together and that’s why we have to feel very proud.”
