Jurgen Klopp has already made his feelings clear on shock Man Utd target

Manchester United is weighing up a bid for Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, who earned high praise from former Reds boss Jurgen Klopp during his time at Anfield

Jurgen Klopp has offered his opinion(Image: Getty Images)

Jurgen Klopp has been unequivocal in his views on potential Manchester United transfer target Alexis Mac Allister, having previously heaped praise on the Liverpool star.

It was reported on Monday that United is considering a surprising move for its fierce rival's midfielder. It's understood that Old Trafford officials are monitoring the Argentina international closely amid rumors that he could depart Anfield this summer, having arrived from Brighton in June 2023.

Mac Allister, who lifted the Premier League trophy under Arne Slot last season, has struggled to replicate those performances for Liverpool this campaign, a largely challenging season for the South American.

United, meanwhile, is searching for Premier League-proven central midfielders in the summer and could provoke Liverpool by launching a bid for the 27-year-old, who remains under contract until 2028.

While the Reds are unlikely to sanction his departure to a historic rival, United's interest comes as little surprise given the quality of the 2022 World Cup winner.

His exceptional ability in central midfield was highlighted on numerous occasions by his former Liverpool manager, Klopp, who brought him to Merseyside and worked with him for one season before departing to take up his current position with Red Bull.

Alexis Mac Allister is being linked with Manchester United(Image: Getty Images)

The German lavished praise on the "incredible" Mac Allister after just a few months of working alongside him. "He is a fantastic player, and I love everything about him," said Klopp.

"He is super smart, tactically and off the pitch as well, so it is really nice to work with him. His best position? He is too young for me to know. He is a midfielder, I can tell you that!

"If we defend well as a team, he can definitely play in the six position because there are small spaces and he sees situations really well. Then, we have got an extra footballer on the pitch, which is really cool."

Later during the 2023-24 campaign, with Klopp nearing the end of his time at Anfield, he praised Mac Allister's off-field personality.

Klopp said: "He's educated in the best possible way. He's really polite, confident, funny, smart, and an incredible footballer. Oh my God! You watch training sessions and the coaches look at each other like, 'Wow, what was that?'

"And only from time to time you see it in games as well [because] first and foremost, we still train more often than we play.

"How he interacts with the other boys, how he took the South American outfield player department under his wings naturally, without telling them what to do, but just how they came together. It's wonderful.

"I loved it from the first moment when we met before we signed him, and when I met his dad. The football understanding in his family is obviously second to none: dad, a former professional, uncle, a former professional, brothers professionals, cousins professionals. So they all eat and breathe football, and that's so good.

"Of course, I love him. I don't know where the boys get it from that he's kind of the manager's pet or favorite because I have a lot of them, but yes, he's definitely one of them!"