Richard Hughes Sporting Director of Liverpool during the first Arne Slot press conference at AXA Training Centre on July 05, 2024 in Kirkby, England.placeholder image
Richard Hughes Sporting Director of Liverpool during the first Arne Slot press conference at AXA Training Centre on July 05, 2024 in Kirkby, England. | Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Liverpool have assembled a squad fit for the future but is Richard Hughes making a bad decision on one player?
It will be little consolation to Liverpool fans knowing that they will get better, improve and challenge for the title again.
There might not be much evidence on recent performances, but it isn’t unreasonable to assume that the defence will be strengthened, that more flair will be added to the forward line and that Alexander Isak will not only get himself fit, but remember how good a player he is and spend more time causing opposition defenders problems than time in the treatment room.
Liverpool look to tie down midfield trio
A key reason to be optimistic is that Liverpool have assembled a squad that is predominantly pre-peak, aside from Alisson, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, all three of whom will be incredibly difficult to replace when the time comes. At the heart of the squad is a midfield full of technically proficient players with a variety of skill sets. If Richard Hughes does his job right, other than a natural no.6, he should t have to spend money on a midfielder for several years.
According to a report in The Times, this would appear to be the plan, with Hughes looking to tie down three title winners to longer-term deals: "The development comes with Liverpool looking to tie down the future of Szoboszlai’s fellow midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, while there has been contact with the representatives of Alexis Mac Allister about the structure of a future agreement, although talks have not been in depth thus far."
Gravenberch and Szoboslai have been two of Liverpool’s most consistent performers this season with the other midfielders usually having to fight for the other place or places in the starting XI, depending on what shape and system Slot implements. One player who isn’t as important is Mac Alister. At one point the Argentina international was a guaranteed starter and branded both “unique” and “special” by Slot via Liverpool’s website, but times change and he just hasn’t been as effective this season.
Why Liverpool should look to offload Mac Allister
Rather than offering the 27-year old a new contract, Liverpool should be looking to offload him whilst his value is still high so that he can be replaced with a greater need – a no.6. Wolves midfielder Andre has been linked which would make competition for places even fiercer. There is no point having a World Cup and Premier League winner sitting on the bench who is neither a prolific goal scorer or chance creator or the sort who can dominate possession like Curtis Jones.
If Mac Allister is given a wage rise, all it would do is make it harder to sell him with the Premier League continuing to pull away from Europe’s elites. Another big earner running down their contract is the last thing that Liverpool needs after the drawn out sagas of the last two seasons.
Selling him could cover the cost of someone like Andre or even Adam Wharton if the right buyer can be found. Last summer showed how far the Premier League has pulled in front with even teams like Bayern Munich and Real Madrid unable to keep up either in terms of wages or transfer fees.
Continue Reading