Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister was asked which of his Argentina team-mates he would like to play alongside at Anfield
Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi, Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo De Paul, Julian Alvarez, Lautaro Martinez, and Nahuel Molina of Argentina stand before kickoff between Argentina and Bolivia at Estadio Mas Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on October 15. (Photo by Federico Peretti/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Cristian Romero (far left) is the Argentina team-mate Alexis Mac Allister (far right) would love to have at Liverpool alongside him
(Image: Federico Peretti/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
With Liverpool attempting to complete the signings of Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez, there is an argument to suggest their transfer business could almost be done. After all, the Reds have already bolstered their squad with Giorgi Mamardashvili and Jeremie Frimpong.
But with more exits expected after the departures of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Caoimhin Kelleher, there could yet be room for more incomings even if and when Wirtz and Kerkez complete their much-anticipated moves.
Indeed, the Reds' interest in Kerkez's Bournemouth team-mate Dean Huijsen, who instead joined Alexander-Arnold at Real Madrid, suggests a new centre-back cannot be ruled out.
READ MORE: Liverpool transfer state of play as Florian Wirtz deal nears conclusion and two fail to happen
And with the futures over Luis Diaz and particularly Darwin Nunez under question, what of a new forward?
Liverpool have been linked with enough of those since the season ended and this week old foe Diego Simeone, the long-serving Atletico Madrid manager, namechecked the Premier League champions when speaking about his striker Julio Alvarez.
“Julian is 25 years old, he's an extraordinary player, with hunger, with enthusiasm, with humility, with work, with goals, with hierarchy,” said Simeone of his fellow Argentine.
“How could everyone not want him? And Barcelona, PSG, Arsenal, Liverpool... the best have to want him.
“And for us, Atletico fans, it should be a source of pride that everyone wants him. Why? Because he's ours.
“And since he's ours, we have to take care of him. We have to help him feel happy.
“How will he feel happy? By winning. And to get there, we all have to give 110%. And not just for him, of course, but for everyone.”
Alvarez had a superb debut campaign at Atletico following his £81.8m move from Manchester City, scoring 29 goals in 54 games.
But when asked which of his Argentina team-mates Alexis Mac Allister he would sign to join him at Liverpool, the midfielder did not choose the striker.
Instead he did not hesitate in picking a player from another Premier League club. Mac Allister replied: "Oh, Cuti. He's a player I love."
Cuti, of course, being the nickname of Cristian Romero, the Tottenham Hotspur centre-back who won the World Cup alongside Mac Allister in Qatar in 2022.
"The way he speaks and plays, sometimes you feel like he's too much because he makes everything so easy," Mac Allister said when asked to give an explanation for his answer.
"He gives me confidence. For me, he's been the best centre-back in the world for several years."
Now Romero's importance to Tottenham was underlined when he helped inspire their hard-fought Europa League final win over Manchester United, which was still not enough to stop Ange Postecoglou from getting the sack.
But best centre-back in the world? Reds captain Virgil van Dijk may have more claim to that title.
But showing his loyalty to the Dutchman, Mac Allister added: “Van Dijk, with his height, already commands a lot of respect.”