Lee Smith via Reuters
Manchester City have explored a deal to sign Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister alongside Cody Gakpo this summer, as a move for Enzo Fernandez stalls, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.
The Cityzens have had an expensive summer transfer window so far, bringing in Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi for a combined fee of more than £200m, while new manager Enzo Maresca is also pushing for the arrival of Chelsea star Fernandez as his priority target.
But the World Cup winner has emerged as a difficult deal to do, with Chelsea pricing him at more than £120m, which has seen talks stall with the transfer window due to shut in just four days.
While Fernandez remains the top target at the Etihad Stadium, City are now looking at alternative options and have expressed interest in a deal to sign his international teammate Alexis Mac Allister.
City have also held talks with the Reds over a potential move to sign winger Cody Gakpo, with Liverpool having agreed a move to sign Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain for around £120m including add-ons.
There has been no breakthrough in talks to sign Fernandez at this stage, according to the Sky Sports Italia journalist, and that has seen the club begin to take a look at Mac Allister as an alternative.
The 27-year-old has been linked with a move away from Anfield all summer, but Andoni Iraola is understood to be keen not to lose more first-team stars, having already seen Curtis Jones move to Inter Milan, while Mohamed Salah, Ibrahima Konate, and Andrew Robertson have all departed on free transfers.
City are keen to find an agreement for Fernandez, but Chelsea's deadline for a deal has passed and now terms are expected to change for a transfer to be done. However, the former Benfica star was left out of the club's EFL Cup squad for the win over Luton in midweek, and was booed by fans during their first Premier League game against Fulham.
GIVEMESPORT sources understand Liverpool have been offered a deal to sign Lamine Camara, which could see him replace Mac Allister.
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Fees correct prior to summer 2026
Enzo Fernandez Enzo Mac Allister
Iraola Praises Mac Allister
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After reaching a second consecutive World Cup final with Argentina, there was plenty of speculation around Mac Allister's future at Anfield, with Real Madrid reported to have been showing an interest.
But speaking following the tournament, Iraola was quick to hand out praise for the former Brighton midifelder, describing him as 'one of the best'.
"It is normal that other clubs want our best players, our good players, it always happens in other markets. But I want to, also as other clubs want, I want to keep my good players. Probably I'm looking forward more to signing new players than the ones we have here."