Liverpool hope to conclude a deal with Brighton for Alexis Mac Allister before the Argentina midfielder heads off on international duty as they close in on their first transfer of the summer.
The Reds have been keen to move quickly following the end of an underwhelming campaign that saw them finish fifth in the Premier League - the lowest position of any full season under Jurgen Klopp - and Mac Allister has been earmarked as the priority.
Talks have now taken place between Liverpool and Brighton.
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And it's understood the player's representatives are in England to thrash out a deal the Reds are confident of wrapping up before Mac Allister heads off to play for the World Cup winners against Australia on June 15.
The 24-year-old midfielder jumped to the top of Liverpool's' transfer shortlist earlier this year after the club took the decision to move away from interest in the £130m-rated Jude Bellingham.
And although Mac Allister only signed a new contract in October, it is thought the terms have a release clause that will make negotiating with Brighton a smoother process.
It's not known how much the release clause is set at but its existence will at least ease the process for the Reds with Seagulls owner Tony Bloom and CEO Paul Barber known as some of the toughest negotiators in the Premier League when it comes to selling their key assets.
Liverpool did face competition from Manchester United for the 24-year-old but are now confident it is a race they have won as they look to strike a significant deal in a summer that is centering around a midfield rebuild following an alarming regression last season.
Speaking after Brighton's historic sixth-place finish in the Premier League last month, manager Roberto De Zerbi conceded that both Mac Allister and team-mate Moises Caicedo would likely be leaving in the transfer window.
"I think that can be the last game of Alexis and Moises (Caicedo), I'm really sorry," said De Zerbi. "They are two great people and two great players. The policy of Brighton is like this. I think it's right they can leave, can change teams and play in a level higher. We are ready. We have to find other big players to play without Alexis and Moises.
“If you ask me about Caicedo and Mac Allister, I love them and they are two big, big players and can play in a big European team. They can play in every competition. I hope for them they can play [for the] best team in the world, because we’ll be the first big fan of them.”
Work has been underway for some time on a deal for Mac Allister with Klopp eager to wrap up his business as soon as possible ahead of a return to pre-season training next month. Speaking before the 4-4 draw with Southampton on May 28, the Reds boss told reporters at his pre-match press conference that he was eager to secure his key targets as quickly as possible.
Klopp said: "The better the players you want, the lesser is the desire of the other club to let him go. And that's exactly what we are prepared for. But it's a long window and a long pre-season and a long break in between, so we have time if we get in players tomorrow or in six or seven weeks. It is not a game-changer for me, to be honest.
"In an ideal world they all sign tomorrow and I can tell them when to be and we can start giving them the plans for the summer break but that will not likely happen."
Confirmation of Mac Allister's signature will represent a significant coup for Liverpool as they go about rebuilding a midfield department that lost James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at the end of the season. Mason Mount had been identified as another target but the Chelsea star is reportedly close to a move to Manchester United, meaning attention will likely be turned elsewhere.
Southampton's Romeo Lavia has his admirers as well Wolves star Matheus Nunes, while reports in France and Germany, respectively, have linked the Reds to Nice's Khephren Thuram and Manu Kone of Borussia Monchengladbach. Bayern Munich's Netherlands international Ryan Gravenberch is another who has been linked.
Mac Allister is currently in Miami enjoying an end-of-season holiday prior to linking up with his international colleagues for their games with Australia on June 15 and Indonesia four days later. He gave an interview with Infobae over weekend which dropped several hints that he would be moving on from the Amex Stadium when the window opens.
The World Cup winner said: "I am very calm because I also have the possibility of being in a club like Brighton that accompanied me at all times and in which I enjoy being very much," he said. "If I do not have to leave the club I will continue to be very happy there, but I am aware that there will be possibilities and if a good offer arrives for the club and for me we will evaluate it.
"I have no doubt that today [the Premier League] is the best league to play in and that is why I am aware that I would like my next club to be in the Premier League, I really enjoy being there and the truth is that people have always treated me 10 in the country and that for me is very important.
Speaking recently, Mac Allister’s cousin, Luciano Guaycochea – who is a professional footballer himself with Malaysian side Perak – dropped a major hint that a switch to Anfield was imminent.
“I cannot say where he’s going to play but everyone knows the Liverpool deal is close,” Guaycochea said. “It’s a big team. But anywhere he goes, I hope that he can play well.”
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