Liverpool are on the verge of signing Brighton midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and could pay £60million to get the deal done by the end of this week.
The 24-year-old emerged as a prime target for the Reds after they pulled out of the race to sign Real Madrid-bound Jude Bellingham due to the money involved.
The Merseysiders faced competition from Manchester City and Manchester United for the World Cup winner, however, the Argentina international has opted to move to Anfield this summer.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are set for a busy summer and have already seen four players leave after their contracts expired including James Milner, Roberto Firmino, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Naby Keita.
Arthur Melo also returned to Juventus after his loan spell came to an end.
Paul Merson believes Mac Allister would be a great signing for Liverpool if the Reds could secure his signature.
“If Liverpool are going to challenge for the league as well as just the top four, for them to get Mac Allister would be a great signing. He’s a top player, a World Cup winner and was a massive influence in that tournament,” Merson said as quoted by Sky Sports.
“He’s a very good player, a very calming influence on the pitch. He keeps the ball and ticks it along, and reminds me a bit of an Ilkay Gundogan without the goals.
“He’s a different kind of player to Jude Bellingham who they wanted before, Bellingham would get forward a bit more, but Mac Allister does the simple stuff very, very well.
“People might say, ‘Oh, the simple stuff?’ but there’s not a lot of players who can do that.”
Klopp hopes to get the bulk of his summer signings done before the squad reconvenes on July 8.
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