It’s the kind of summer transfer rumor that immediately raises eyebrows around Anfield, even if things remain calm inside Liverpool’s training ground. Manchester City are actively planning for life without their midfield anchor in Rodri, who is close to completing an unexpected £55million move to Barcelona.
Losing the Spanish international leaves a massive hole in the heart of City's midfield, and they need to find a way to fix it quickly.
Replacing someone like Rodri is never easy, which is why City are casting a wide range of targets. They’ve already spent £116million on Elliot Anderson early in the window and are closing in on a deal for Lille’s young midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. But with Rodri moving on, talkSPORT reports that Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister has landed on City's shortlist as a possible target.
Where Alexis Mac Allister fits in
City’s interest in Mac Allister makes sense on paper. Since moving to Anfield from Brighton in 2023 for £55million, the 27-year-old has proven he can handle the pressure of English football. He was key to Liverpool’s Premier League title triumph in 2024/25 season and earned a spot in the PFA Team of the Year.
Even though last season was tough he scored twice and picked up four assists as Liverpool struggled to a fifth-place finish his talent is undeniable. After a summer break following Argentina’s 1-0 World Cup final defeat to Spain he is now back in Liverpool training and entering his peak years.
Speaking on talkSPORT’s transfer Insider, reporter Ben Jacobs explained that Mac Allister is being talked about behind closed doors at City because he would cost significantly less than other targets like Enzo Fernandez or Adam Wharton.
“I know internally Alexis McAllister has been mentioned, but there's been no contact yet, or developments with Liverpool. So that's just more part of a shortlisting process than anything to get excited about.”
Jacobs also gave some insight into City's current priorities under manager Enzo Maresca.
“Some people have mentioned Adam Wharton to me as well. So possibly in a perfect world, if Enzo Maresca had his say, he might choose to move for Enzo Fernandez. We can't entirely discount it, but the price is a massive stumbling block. And at the moment, City's focus is on trying to get Bouaddi over the line.”
If you ask any Liverpool supporter about these reports, the answer is pretty simple: not a chance. Reds fans know last season wasn't the midfielder best campaign, but selling one of their top midfielders to a direct title rival would be madness.
The feeling is that he’s an essential part of the team, and selling him to City would send completely the wrong message as Andoni Iraola tries to get Liverpool back competing for silverware.
On top of that, Liverpool hold all the power here. the 27-year-old still has two years left on his contract, running until 2028, so there is zero reason for the club to sell him on the cheap. Liverpool almost never sell key players to rival Premier League teams, and that isn't likely to change anytime soon.
Real Madrid have also been heavily linked with the Argentine as a potential target to bolster their midfield options
While City and Real Madrid might admire the World Cup winner, turning that interest into a real transfer looks almost impossible right now.Liverpool see Mac Allister as a crucial part of their plans for the upcoming season, and his experience is going to be vital if they want to bounce back.
Unless Manchester City come in with an utterly ridiculous offer that Liverpool simply can't refuse, Mac Allister isn't going anywhere.For now, he's back at Kirkby, focusing on the new season, while City keep looking elsewhere for their Rodri replacement.
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