Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister faces an uncertain future with the club, with his dwindling contract situation leaving him in limbo about his long-term place in the team
Alexis Mac Allister's future remains in doubt due to his dwindling contract situation
Alexis Mac Allister's future remains in doubt due to his dwindling contract situation(Image: (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images))
Former Liverpool star Glen Johnson has urged his old club to offer a new contract to Alexis Mac Allister, amid ongoing uncertainty over the midfielder's future at Anfield.
The Argentinian international has fewer than two years remaining on his current deal with the Reds, with interest appearing in the summer from the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester City to try and tempt a switch away from Merseyside.
While no sale was sanctioned, there is yet to be a move to offer a new deal to Mac Allister, despite recent long-term extensions for his midfield teammates, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch. That led to the player himself publicly announcing his frustration at not being offered a contract like those around him.
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The 27-year-old has restated his commitment to Liverpool since, and he has shown as much with his performances so far during a busy first few months of the season, standing out as one of the key performers under Andoni Iraola.
Reports have since emerged claiming that there is currently no plan to extend Mac Allister's contract, though there is of course time for that to change in the coming months.
However, with such a stance circulating, there have been some split opinions surrounding it. For former right-back Johnson, however, the decision should be reconsidered, and a new deal should be offered.
Alexis Mac Allister has under two years remaining on his current contract
Alexis Mac Allister has under two years remaining on his current contract(Image: (Photo by MB Media/Getty Images))
Speaking to Betfred, the ex-Liverpool ace said: "I am surprised. He's always solid, he's never terrible, and he's a great player in Liverpool's team. I really like him as a player and Alexis has openly said that he wants a new contract because a couple of the other players have had their contracts renewed, and he hasn't. He's clearly as shocked as us."
It's unclear whether Liverpool will consider offering a new deal, should performances continue or even improve on the current showing from the midfield ace.
Mac Allister has rediscovered some of the energy and attacking thrust that was present before last season, when he admittedly had a downturn in form along with the rest of the team.
Iraola certainly seems impressed with the star since his arrival, as he told the press last week: "For me it's impossible [to say what happened last season], because I wasn't here last season. So we are talking about hypotheses. And he will know better than me, definitely, no?
"What I can say about him is that I'm happy, because his performances have been very good since day one I arrived. He arrived [as] the last one from the national team, but straight away took everything, all the information. I think he's smart, understands, you don't need to explain seven times the same things to Alexis.
"Some of the players get things very quickly, get information even from opposition, what we need from each team, from each position. And I think he helps a lot also his team-mates, because he understands the overall picture, and it's good to have him on the pitch."
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That trust has certainly been shown by Iraola in starting Mac Allister regularly in the important games so far this season. While midfield has been an area of concern for some, given the different mix of player profiles available, Mac Allister has shown why he is currently one of the best options available, and perhaps he's making a case for his long-term future, too.