Alexis Mac Allister Rejects Manchester City Move
Alexis Mac Allister has heard Manchester City’s call. He’s not moving an inch.
City sounded him out as they drew up contingency plans for life without Enzo Fernandez, but the Liverpool midfielder has shut the door on a summer switch – and he’s done it emphatically.
City reshuffle, Mac Allister stands firm
The champions are ripping up their midfield and starting again. Bernardo Silva is heading to Real Madrid on a free. Rodri is on track for Barcelona. Tijjani Reijnders is off to Al Qadsiah.
Coming in: Elliot Anderson, Ayyoub Bouaddi and, City hope, one more major name.
Enzo Maresca’s first choice is clear. He wants Enzo Fernandez, the player he knows from Chelsea, at the heart of his new-look side. Chelsea, though, have drawn a hard line: meet the £120m release clause by 5pm UK time or forget it. Hit the number and they’ll sell. Miss it and they won’t entertain offers again this month or in January.
Maresca has already hinted City won’t be throwing around that kind of money today. The deadline is expected to pass without a bid, which pushes City into plan B territory.
That’s where Alexis Mac Allister came in.
“My son will stay at Liverpool”
talkSPORT revealed City had placed the Argentina international on their list of alternatives. Liverpool’s No. 10, technically sharp, tactically intelligent, Premier League proven – it made sense.
But the answer from the Mac Allister camp has been blunt.
In comments relayed by Fabrizio Romano, his father, former professional Carlos Mac Allister, cut through the noise: “My son will stay at Liverpool. We have not discussed any possibility of him leaving the club this summer.”
TEAMtalk have since confirmed City did make an approach. Mac Allister listened, then made it clear he’s staying put. No leverage play. No flirtation with the market. Just a flat refusal to leave Anfield.
Iraola factor flips the script
This isn’t a player running from a bad year, either. Mac Allister’s 2025/26 campaign was far from straightforward, but according to TEAMtalk’s insider Graeme Bailey, that’s exactly why he’s so determined to make it work on Merseyside.
Bailey reports that Mac Allister is “more than happy at Liverpool” and is relishing the chance to work under new head coach Andoni Iraola. Those close to the player believe Iraola’s style suits him, and the midfielder is “excited by the role he can play in the new manager’s plans.”
So while City juggle options and deadlines, Mac Allister is looking at something else: a fresh start under a coach whose ideas align with his strengths.
Liverpool move to lock him down
Liverpool, for their part, are not about to test his loyalty.
The club are already weighing up a new contract for the 25-year-old, whose current deal has just under two years left. Discussions are expected to open later this year, with the hierarchy keen to reward his status and tie him down on improved terms.
Bailey adds that Liverpool “are equally keen to keep Mac Allister” and see him as central to Iraola’s rebuild. There is, at this stage, “no desire from Mac Allister or his camp to pursue an exit,” with the midfielder fully focused on returning to work and becoming a key figure in the new-look side.
City will move on to the next name on their list. Mac Allister won’t be on it. His decision is made, his path is set – and now the real question is how big a role he can carve out at the heart of Iraola’s Liverpool.
