The Alexis Mac Allister rumours that rose to prevalence last week had fans of both Liverpool and Manchester United scratching their heads.
No direct transfer business has been done between the two bitter Premier League rivals in over 60 years, and the idea that the streak would be broken this summer sounded ridiculous.
And it is. If Liverpool want to sell the Argentinian, they will have no shortage of suitors.
Man United wouldn’t have a chance at the deal.
If you were forced to sell one Liverpool player to Manchester United, who goes?
Man United ‘interested’ in Alexis Mac Allister…
Alexis Mac Allister Liverpool transfer rumour
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
A fresh report from journalist Dean Jones reflects that, claiming sources close to the club wouldn’t bet on this crazy move happening.
Dean Jones update on Alexis Mac Allister should come as a surprise to nobody
Man United’s interest in Mac Allister is understandable. There just isn’t enough midfield quality at Old Trafford and Casemiro is surely approaching the end of his time there.
But going for a Liverpool player isn’t a strategy likely to pay off.
Jones told TEAMtalk that those close to the situation at United are ‘unconvinced by the links’ that seemingly cropped up out of the blue.
Alexis Mac Allister celebrates after scoring for Liverpool against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League at the City Ground
Photo by James Holyoak/MB Media/Getty Images
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Liverpool vs Man United is England’s most heated rivalry, and there is a genuine disdain held by the two clubs for each other.
Just why Jim Ratcliffe thought there would be any other outcome to this approach is perhaps a good indicator of how out of touch he is with the average football fan — and not the first.
Alexis Mac Allister is a Champions League midfielder
The race for the Premier League top five is heating up.
United’s win over Everton on Monday took them three points clear of Liverpool and Chelsea, but there’s still a lot of football to play.
Until Michael Carrick gets the horse over the line, United aren’t a Champions League side.
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If Mac Allister is to depart, it would be to one of Europe’s elite. The 27-year-old has plenty of prime years left, and would be an attractive proposition to any top side.
Whether he does could well depend on his form from here to the end of the season. I don’t want him gone, but I do want an elite defensive midfielder brought in.
If we can do that without losing Mac Allister, fantastic.
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