Liverpool have perfect present for Mac Allister as Reds try to seal £70m deal

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp could entice Alexis Mac Allister to Anfield by pointing out that he would have a free run at his dream shirt number. The Brighton midfielder is in high demand ahead of the summer transfer window, although the Reds are favourites to pip several of their Premier League rivals to his signature.

With Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal also heavily linked, Liverpool could be wise to use any tricks at their disposal to get the deal over the line. Mac Allister would take up a hefty portion of their summer budget, with the Seagulls set to demand around £70million.

One particular selling point surrounds the Argentine’s prospective shirt number. Since Sadio Mane left Liverpool to join Bayern Munich last summer, the coveted No 10 jersey has remained unassigned in Klopp’s squad.

Mac Allister sports the No 10 shirt at Brighton and he also did so at Argentinos Juniors, from whom the Seagulls signed him in 2019.

Although Liverpool are expected to go after more than one midfielder this summer, two other coveted shirt numbers are also set to be left vacant, meaning Mac Allister’s path towards the No 10 should remain clear regardless of who they sign.

James Milner and Naby Keita, who wear numbers 7 and 8 respectively, are both poised to leave Anfield on free transfers upon the expiration of their contracts. Numbers 12 and 16 are also available for any would-be arrivals on Merseyside.

The No 10 shirt has been worn by a series of Reds legends including Michael Owen, John Barnes and Philippe Coutinho.

Liverpool have been linked with a variety of midfield options since pulling out of the race for Jude Bellingham. Klopp reportedly believes that multiple cost-effective signings in the middle of the park would benefit the side more than a single blockbuster.

Among those linked are Mason Mount, who could be available for a palatable fee as he approaches the final 12 months of his Chelsea contract, and Manuel Ugarte, whose agent has already confirmed that he is likely to leave Sporting Lisbon this summer.