Man Utd could address 3-year Alexis Mac Allister transfer frustration with move for Liverpool star

Manchester United's links with Alexis Mac Allister are set against an intriguing backdrop. Liverpool moved to secure his signing three years ago, but now his future looks less certain

Manchester United's reported interest in Alexis Mac Allister comes three years after Liverpool beat the Red Devils to his signature

Not for the first time, Liverpool made its move first in the transfer market.

Love or loathe it, the Reds’ precise strategy in the market ensures that when a target is identified, the club does not dawdle. The signing of Fabinho was memorably confirmed two days after losing the Champions League final in 2018, while last summer the arrivals of Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez were all secured before the end of June.

So it was no surprise when Liverpool acted with similar assertiveness three years ago. On this occasion, it was Alexis Mac Allister whom the Reds snapped up before that season’s Champions League final had taken place.

His arrival from Brighton & Hove Albion helped shape what proved to be a crucial summer rebuild under Jurgen Klopp, although it was ultimately Arne Slot who benefited from the freshly assembled midfield triumvirate of Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai.

Of that trio, it was Mac Allister, the World Cup winner, who had drawn the most interest from elsewhere. Among those keenly monitoring his progress was Manchester United, on the back of a season in which, remarkably, Erik ten Hag’s side had finished above the Reds and won its first silverware in nearly six years. Arguably, at that stage, it was a more desirable location.

Yet Liverpool’s planning in the market that summer sat in direct contrast to United’s erratic, impulsive actions.

Other than an early deal for Mason Mount, ironically, a midfielder Liverpool also considered, a lack of coordination led to panic-stricken cut-price moves late in the window for Altay Bayindir, Jonny Evans, Sergio Reguilon and Sofyan Amrabat. None of that quartet went on to achieve great feats.

United was interested in Mac Allister in 2023(Image: Getty Images)

United’s failure to pursue Mac Allister was not viewed internally as a missed opportunity — there had never been a concrete plan to sign him. This was a case of what could have been, rather than a rival stealing a march. In hindsight, it was a missed opportunity, one that United could look to remedy this summer.

If reports are to be believed, the Red Devils are considering a summer approach for Mac Allister three years on from that initial frustration.

As unlikely as that feels given the scarcity of players who have represented England’s two greatest clubs in recent years, it’s a move that feels significantly more plausible than it did 12 months ago.

For a start, Mac Allister’s form has plummeted this season. Regarded as one of the world’s top midfielders a year ago, who earned a place in last season’s PFA Team of the Year, his place in Slot’s starting XI no longer feels guaranteed.

Injuries and fitness concerns have proved problematic, and the need for a holding midfielder means Mac Allister may not be an automatic pick, given Slot can call upon Gravenberch, Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz.

The Argentinian lives closer to Old Trafford than Anfield and could be swayed by the presence of his international team-mate, Lisandro Martinez, at United.

Mac Allister's long-term future does not look certain at Liverpool(Image: Robin Jones, Getty Images)

However, there is the ominous figure of Real Madrid lurking in the background as the summer beckons. The 15-time European champions have long admired Mac Allister, and the lure of the Spanish capital tugs particularly tightly on the heartstrings of South Americans.

Whether Real, in the midst of its own chaotic season, still prioritises Mac Allister’s addition is unclear. Still, its interest underlines how his long-term future at Liverpool is far from certain.

The 27-year-old will enter the final two years of his contract this summer, and, particularly as extension talks with Szoboszlai and Gravenberch continue, the prospect of Mac Allister departing should not be overlooked.

Perhaps there are lessons to be drawn from Luis Diaz’s exit last year. The Colombian was in a similar position to Mac Allister, with two years remaining on his contract and demands for an improved deal falling on deaf ears.

Some feel Liverpool came to regret that decision, and allowing Mac Allister to leave would be a similarly controversial choice.

The Reds once acted decisively to secure his future. Three years on, a different decision altogether is looming.