Liverpool dealt huge blow by respected journalist in Mac Allister race with Man Utd, Newcastle

Manchester United and Newcastle would have to f*** up pretty spectacularly for Alexis Mac Allister to move to Liverpool this summer.

It was claimed over the weekend that the Reds were ‘closing in’ on the World Cup winner and were ‘prepared to strike a £70m deal’.

But Andy Naylor, The Athletic’s Brighton reporter, has dealt a massive blow to Liverpool’s chances of landing the 24-year-old, reporting that Mac Allister ‘wants Champions League football if he leaves Brighton this summer’.

The report claims the Seagulls ‘haven’t abandoned hope of holding onto Mac Allister if they qualify for the Europa League’, but should a club competing in the Champions League come knocking, the midfielder will likely be on his way.

Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi confirmed after his side’s 3-0 win over Arsenal that the club will struggle to hold on to their very best players this summer.

“For sure we will lose some players, maybe Caicedo and Mac Allister,” De Zerbi told Sky Sports. “We have to be ready to bring in more good players and for the others; Mitoma, Estupinan, I think for them the best solution is to stay with us.”

But The Athletic report suggests Mac Allister won’t be on his way to Liverpool barring quite the f*** up from either Manchester United and Newcastle, combined with a perfect Liverpool record for the remainder of the season.

Liverpool relegation-threatened Leicester on Monday night, hoping to close the gap to United to one point.

But the Red Devils, like Newcastle above them on the same points, will have a game in hand on the Reds.

Both Man Utd and Newcastle have also been linked with a move to Mac Allister, and, if Champions League is indeed a necessity, would now appear to be above Liverpool in the race for the midfielder.

The Athletic reported last week that the contract signed by Mac Allister in October until 2025, with the option of a further year for Brighton, contains a mechanism to help facilitate a move for the midfielder with a say for the club in the outcome.

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