Alexis Mac Allister Commits to Liverpool Amid Manchester City Interest
Alexis Mac Allister has shut the door on Manchester City and nailed his colours firmly to the Liverpool mast.
City sounded out the Argentina international as they prepared for a major midfield reshuffle, with Bernardo Silva heading to Real Madrid on a free, Rodri on course for Barcelona and Tijjani Reijnders bound for Al Qadsiah. Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi are already in, but Pep Guardiola’s side still want one more midfielder at the heart of their rebuild.
Their preferred option is clear: Enzo Fernandez. New City boss Enzo Maresca is pushing for a reunion with the Chelsea playmaker, but the clock is against him. Chelsea have set a hard 5pm UK deadline for any club willing to pay £120m. Meet the price in time and they will sell. Miss it, and Fernandez stays put, with the Blues refusing to entertain offers for the rest of this window and again in January.
Maresca had already hinted on Friday that City were unlikely to make any blockbuster moves before the window closes. The message from the Etihad is restraint, not a late, wild swing at the £120m clause. That stance all but rules out Fernandez and forces City to scan the market for alternatives.
One of the names quickly pushed towards the top of their list: Alexis Mac Allister.
talkSPORT reported that the Liverpool midfielder had emerged on City’s radar, and an approach was made to test the waters around a possible deal. But the response from the player’s camp was immediate and unequivocal.
His father, former professional Carlos Mac Allister, drew a thick red line through the speculation. In comments relayed by Fabrizio Romano, he said: “My son will stay at Liverpool. We have not discussed any possibility of him leaving the club this summer.”
TEAMtalk have since backed that up, confirming City’s enquiry and underlining that Mac Allister and his representatives have made it crystal clear: he is staying at Anfield.
The stance is all the more striking given Liverpool’s turbulent 2025/26 campaign, but there is a clear reason behind his resolve. Graeme Bailey, speaking via TEAMtalk’s sources, revealed that Mac Allister is energised by the arrival of new head coach Andoni Iraola.
According to Bailey, an inside source close to the player’s representatives says the midfielder is “more than happy” at Liverpool and eager to work under Iraola. Those close to Mac Allister believe the Basque coach’s style and demands will suit him, and the player is excited by the role he expects to play in the new regime.
Liverpool, for their part, are just as determined to keep him.
Mac Allister’s current contract has just under two years left to run, yet the club are already weighing up an extension. Plans are in place to open talks later this year, with Liverpool keen to underline his importance to the side by offering improved terms and a longer stay.
For now, there is no push from Mac Allister’s camp to explore an exit, no flirting with the market, no hint of agitation. The focus is simple: return to work, lock into Iraola’s plans and establish himself as a central pillar of the new-look Liverpool.
City will move on to the next name. Mac Allister, by choice, will not.
