As Premier League rivals scramble to tie down their breakout star to a ‘fresh deal’, Liverpool are ready to circle a high-energy midfield alternative.
As Liverpool navigate the complexities of the summer transfer window, the long-term structural integrity of their midfield remains a primary focus for the recruitment department. While immediate targets are being assessed, senior figures at Anfield are simultaneously building contingency plans against potential high-profile departures.
The necessity for foresight is driven by shifting circumstances within the current squad. Alexis Mac Allister has drawn sustained exploratory interest from Real Madrid over recent months, while homegrown midfielder Curtis Jones has officially entered the final 12 months of his contract.
Should Liverpool lose either or in a worst-case scenario, both of these key assets, the club will be forced to aggressively enter the market for a high-calibre replacement.
Among the profiles thoroughly tracked by Liverpool’s data and scouting teams is Brighton & Hove Albion’s Yasin Ayari. The 22-year-old Sweden international has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign on the South Coast, establishing himself as a reliable component of Fabian Hürzeler’s tactical setup.
The contract leverage game
Ayari’s current contractual situation has placed Brighton in a delicate position. As first reported by Caught Offside, the Seagulls have opened formal talks over a new long-term extension in an attempt to secure his future before market pressures escalate. However, with his current deal set to expire in June 2027, Brighton are rapidly approaching a critical inflection point.
If negotiations stall, the club face the realistic prospect of being forced into a sale to prevent his valuation from decreasing as he enters his final year.
Liverpool are well-versed in exploiting this specific brand of leverage at the Amex Stadium. In the summer of 2023, the Reds triggered a highly favourable £35 million release clause to sign Mac Allister a piece of business widely considered a market anomaly for a player of his calibre.
Should Brighton fail to tie Ayari down, Liverpool are well-positioned to attempt a repeat of that opportunistic blueprint.
They will not, however, be unchallenged. As detailed in the report:
“The 22-year-old Sweden international has caught the attention of several Premier League clubs, with Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle United and Tottenham all linked with a possible move.
Brighton have already opened talks over a new long-term contract as they look to secure his future. Ayari’s current deal runs until 2027, meaning Brighton are entering an important stage. Liverpool and Chelsea are both looking for more youthful energy in midfield, while Tottenham’s rebuild could make Ayari an attractive option.”
What the data says about Ayari
Stylistically, Ayari represents the modern, press-resistant central midfielder that elite possession-based sides covet. Standing at 1.72m, the right-footed Swede is not a traditional volume-shooting No. 10, or a destructive defensive anchor. Instead, he profiles cleanly as a progressive connector who operates primarily as a central or right-sided No. 8.
Should Brighton’s extension offers continue to be rebuffed, a move to a Premier League rival or a top-tier Bundesliga club offering European football remains the highly probable medium-term outcome.
For Liverpool, he represents a younger, highly functional profile capable of absorbing tactical instructions making him a logical name to monitor as Anfield plans for its next midfield iteration.