Alexis Mac Allister's Uncertain Future at Liverpool
Alexis Mac Allister’s Liverpool future has slipped into that awkward grey area the modern game knows so well: no crisis, no clarity, just questions.
While he prepares with Argentina for a World Cup semi-final against England in 2026, talk around Anfield is not about his next opponent, but his next contract. According to BBC Sport, Liverpool have not opened negotiations over a new deal with the midfielder, despite the fact he has only two years left on his current agreement.
No talks. No rush. No obvious plan.
Mac Allister arrived from Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer of 2023 for £35 million, a signing that looked shrewd then and still does now. He quickly became a central figure in Arne Slot’s first season, helping drive Liverpool to the Premier League title. His influence in that campaign was clear: tempo, intelligence, bravery on the ball.
Then came the dip.
Last season his form tailed off noticeably, a reminder that adaptation in a reshaped side is rarely linear. The club, now turning to Andoni Iraola, must decide whether that downturn was a blip or a warning.
For now, the expectation is that Mac Allister will stay on Merseyside and play under Iraola next season. There is no active push to sell, no stand-off, no public agitation from the player’s side. The noise around him has been familiar, though. His name has been repeatedly linked with Real Madrid, but those links have never advanced beyond speculation. No talks with Liverpool. No talks with Madrid. No talks, it seems, with anyone.
That is what makes his situation so striking.
Dominik Szoboszlai, whose contract also runs to 2028, is reportedly in discussions over an improved deal. Ryan Gravenberch signed fresh terms in May. Liverpool are quietly locking down their midfield core for the long term, yet the man who already has a Premier League title in red on his CV is left waiting.
It is not just Mac Allister caught in this moment of uncertainty. Curtis Jones is also facing an unclear future, with Inter Milan testing Liverpool’s resolve. The Italian club have already seen a third bid turned away. The message there is firm: not at that price.
With Mac Allister, the message is far more nuanced.
Liverpool may be choosing to watch and wait. Iraola’s arrival offers a clean tactical slate, and the club’s hierarchy might prefer to see how the Argentine responds to a new manager, a new structure, and a slightly different role before committing to a major extension. A strong season under Iraola would strengthen Mac Allister’s hand at the negotiating table. A flat one would strengthen Liverpool’s.
For the moment, both sides are living with the tension.
Mac Allister focuses on a World Cup semi-final. Liverpool quietly reshape their midfield around him without promising him anything beyond the contract already signed. The clock ticks towards 2028, and the question lingers over Anfield:
Is Alexis Mac Allister the midfielder they build the next era around, or the asset they cash in on before time runs out?
