Alexis Mac Allister has been described as a “special player and a special person” by Brighton team-mate Adam Lallana.

The Argentine is edging closer to a move to Liverpool as Brighton prepare to cash in. Mac Allister has been a huge success at the Amex since joining as an unknown quantity back in 2019, making his debut a year later. The Seagulls now stand to make a huge profit on their World Cup winner.

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Liverpool desperately need to refresh their midfield over the summer and have targeted Mac Allister as their first major signing. A deal has been agreed with the Reds prepare to pay his release clause and a medical is due to take place in the coming days.

Lallana, who has played alongside the Argentine on the south coast, spent several years playing under Jurgen Klopp before moving on. He highlighted Mac Allister’s qualities several months ago, which are set to suit Liverpool and their coach.

He told The Big Interview with Graham Hunter : “He’s a player that is so pure with how he plays. The way he lends the football, uses others, there’s no selfishness in the way he plays. It was so special watching him during the World Cup, not playing to begin with then getting used and proving himself. Then playing so well that there’s no way he doesn’t play, by the end Messi is looking for him.

“His footballing intelligence, okay he’s not the quickest or strongest, but so smart. Knows that the football is faster than anyone, Alexis is of that ilk. He had to battle tough moments here at the beginning. He’s a very introverted, shy guy.

Klopp has often shown a fondness for character, which will be amplified this summer due to no Champions League football at Anfield for at least 12 months. The German said early in his tenure he didn’t want players who were put off by a lack of European football.

Several years on and the Reds boss is confident that their current predicament won’t impact their recruitment: “If you join club, it’s that you want to reach something together with the club. We have to fight to be part of the Champions League, we have to fight for trophies and if you want to be part of that, you are more than welcome.

“It is a fantastic club with a really good football team and even better, hopefully, next year. I’ve barely faced the situation where you talk with a player and everything is great and he says, ‘okay see you if…’ That doesn’t happen really often.

Several years on and the Reds boss is confident that their current predicament won’t impact their recruitment: “If you join club, it’s that you want to reach something together with the club. We have to fight to be part of the Champions League, we have to fight for trophies and if you want to be part of that, you are more than welcome.

“It is a fantastic club with a really good football team and even better, hopefully, next year. I’ve barely faced the situation where you talk with a player and everything is great and he says, ‘okay see you if…’ That doesn’t happen really often.”