Real Madrid to help Liverpool UNLOCK midfield contract crisis

Liverpool’s midfield sector could be undergoing a refit next summer.

The current array of options are showing signs of wear and tear during this unsuccessful Premier League title defence.

All five senior midfielders - Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo - have suffered some degree of injury trouble this season.

And in the case of Gravenberch and Mac Allister they are not showing the same consistent levels that they produced during the 2024/25 title win.

Factor in some contract uncertainty around key individuals and you can see why midfield might be looming into focus as a priority area for Richard Hughes next summer.

Mac Allister long-term future uncertain

Endo is out of contract in 2027 and the club may take advantage in order to cash in on a fee for the Japan captain one year before his scheduled departure.

And Jones too is also out of contract in 2027 - with surprising outgoing transfer links appearing between the England man and Inter as well as Tottenham during the January window.

Liverpool are said to be desperate to tie down both Gravenberch and Szoboszlai to long-term contracts although it looks to be a stalemate on that front for now.

Less certain of his future status at Anfield is Mac Allister.

Mac Allister sale can free up salary budget

The 27-year-old has been on Merseyside since his transfer from Brighton back in 2023. But he is off the boil this season - not consistently reaching the standard he set during the title-winning season.

And if Gravenberch and Szoboszlai are ahead of him in the pecking order for new deals then Richard Hughes could well consider a sale for the Argentina international.

Rather than letting his contract run down Liverpool would be guaranteed a very good fee if they let Mac Allister go in summer.

Real Madrid are coming back to the table according to a report in Fichajes - with Los Blancos seeing Macca as the key piece of their midfield refit ahead of next season.

Reported to be making around £150k per week at Anfield Mac Allister will no doubt want a pay rise if he is to stay. But right now there is a doubt over whether he would be worth a bigger deal in the long term.

And if the Reds’ decision-makers opt to freeze negotiations then they will be left with no choice other than to sell him.

In turn that may well solve a problem for Hughes and FSG as the proceeds of a Mac Allister sale - and the money saved on his salary - could be put towards a replacement.

We could see Adam Wharton arrive for example - giving the Liverpool midfield fresh blood ahead of the new campaign.

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