Richard Hughes reeling after Alexis Mac Allister transfer BOMBSHELL

Reports have emerged suggesting that Real Madrid are now considering a move for Alexis Mac Allister.

The 26-year-old midfielder has been at Liverpool since 2023 - joining from Brighton for a bargain £35m fee. That summer saw a huge midfield overhaul - with Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all leaving.

Mac Allister was brought on board along with Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo. Liverpool secured an EFL Cup during the quartet’s first season at the club and also qualified for the Champions League.

But it was last season where we saw Mac Allister truly reach world-class form. The Reds carted off their 20th top-flight title and Macca made 35 appearances along the way.

Liverpool given pause for thought by Mac Allister form

All appeared well and a contract renewal at one stage looked inevitable. The World Cup winner signed on until 2028 - on a reported wage of £140k per week - and tying him down for the rest of his 20s at least looked a wise move.

But events over the past few months might give Liverpool pause for thought.

Towards the end of last season - once the title was secured - Alexis finally buckled under the strain of carrying an injury. He was dropped to the bench for two games - against Chelsea and Arsenal - and sat out the final two matches of the season altogether.

It was time for him to rest and recover - missing a total of two months through the summer as Liverpool kicked on with their preseason preparations.

Is Alexis in decline?

And Mac Allister has had a LOT of football in his legs in recent seasons.

“Since the start of the 2022/23 season, the mid-season World Cup year, until the end of the 2024/25 season, the 26-year-old has played 13,211 minutes for club and country, averaging around 4,403 minutes per season,” a report reads in Transfer Hub.

“The 2022/23 season included the World Cup, where Argentina reached the final and won. The summer of 2024 was the Copa America year, during which Mac Allister’s national team also reached the final and emerged victorious.”

In truth Alexis has looked somewhat undercooked this term. He has yet to go to 90 minutes in any game he’s played - and no longer looks the undroppable force he once was.

The No10 has missed game time through injury and has suffered through travel mishaps and itinerary changes on international duty.

Liverpool can improve their midfield

Any contract renewal right now looks risky. Alexis is not showing the form of a Liverpool midfielder who requires a new, improved long-term contract.

And before his value diminishes as his current deal runs out, it might be prudent to consider a bid from the Spaniards.

Liverpool signed Florian Wirtz over the summer - meaning a knock-on effect for the Reds’ midfield stable. Szoboszlai has been most disturbed - losing his status as central playmaker - but he has filled in well elsewhere including at No6, No8 and at right back.

He is more than capable of providing the energy and power Arne Slot needs through the midfield. And there is always the possibility of adding more talent from the outside - including the likes of Adam Wharton or Eduardo Camavinga.

Can Madrid tempt Liverpool into a deal?

Mac Allister - like Alexander Isak - deserves the opportunity to work himself into fitness but Richard Hughes can’t wait forever.

If Real Madrid come forward with an acceptable bid in January - say £100m - then it would leave the club in a position to plunge resources into a replacement and go someway towards funding a bid for a Michael Olise or Antoine Semenyo.

Let’s not say right now that Mac Allister’s Liverpool days are numbered but the club do not want the grass to grow underneath him as he enters a decline.

Moreover it’ll soon come time to either protect their investment with a new deal or else cut loose. That’s just basic financial sense. It’s over to Madrid to see if they can make the Reds sit up and take notice.

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