{"id":242209,"date":"2026-05-07T13:12:14","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T13:12:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/07\/big-mac-allister-upgrade-liverpool-in-close-talks-to-sign-70m-cheat-code\/"},"modified":"2026-05-07T13:12:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T13:12:14","slug":"big-mac-allister-upgrade-liverpool-in-close-talks-to-sign-70m-cheat-code","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/07\/big-mac-allister-upgrade-liverpool-in-close-talks-to-sign-70m-cheat-code\/","title":{"rendered":"Big Mac Allister upgrade: Liverpool in close talks to sign \u00a370m “cheat code”"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

Liverpool<\/a> need new parts – again. It is frustrating to have drifted away from the smooth-sailing form that reaped such rewards under Jurgen Klopp, but this squad have the capacity to make their way back up.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Whereas once before, Arne Slot<\/a> was viewed as a master tactician whose dovetail into the dugout defied logic – because how could this relatively unknown Dutch coach replace the mighty Klopp? – now he is on the ropes, unable to find a solution to Liverpool’s many problems, unable to get a tune out of his big-money signings.<\/p>\n

Liverpool have struggled to compartmentalise their issues this season, but Slot would point toward being on track to qualify for the Champions League, as well as the Premier League<\/a> title won last season as evidence of his capacity to lead the club forward.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

But there’s no question that this is an imbalanced and choppy squad. A range of summer signings are needed, especially in the middle of the park.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n Why Liverpool need to sign a midfielder<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

Alexis Mac Allister<\/a>‘s days in a Liverpool shirt are numbered. The Argentina international’s drop-off has been startling. Gone is the robust, all-action talent who charged several seasons of title-winning success at Anfield, off the back of his crucial role in his nation’s World Cup triumph in Qatar.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Alexis Mac Allister’s Premier League Decline<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\n

Stats (* per 90)<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

24\/25<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

25\/26<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Matches (starts)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

35 (30)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

31 (26)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Goals + Assists<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5 + 5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2 + 2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Touches*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

55.8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

49.5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Accurate passes*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

35.5 (87%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

32.6 (86%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Big chances created<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Key passes*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Possession lost*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

9.3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8.0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Succ. dribbles*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.5 (43%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.3 (38%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Ball recoveries*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4.2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Tackles + interceptions*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Clearances*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Duels won*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4.9 (48%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.0 (45%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

The 27-year-old has been right at the epicentre of his side’s problems this season, and giving him another shot next season might be too big a risk. Paul Joyce of The Times<\/a> has already suggested he could leave.<\/p>\n

Instead, Liverpool could move for Adam Wharton<\/a> after cashing in. As per Reds correspondent David Lynch<\/a>, numerous midfield targets have been profiled by FSG, but it is the Crystal Palace star who has emerged as the top target.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \"Alexis\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Wharton, valued at \u00a370m<\/a>, has already been the subject of discussions with Lynch noting that Liverpool have ‘been in close contact with his representatives since his breakthrough at Blackburn’. Now, with Oliver Glasner leaving Palace this summer, FSG could have the perfect chance to pounce.<\/p>\n

The 23-year-old is a wanted man, though, with Real Madrid and Manchester United also interested<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n Why Wharton is an upgrade on Liverpool’s Mac Allister<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

Wharton has been instrumental in the growth of Glasner’s Crystal Palace project, becoming one of the most sought-after midfielders in Europe.<\/p>\n

Last season, he won the FA Cup; now, the Eagles have one foot in the Conference League final, and the England international has charged the journey, hailed by analyst Ben Mattinson for being a “cheat code<\/a>” on the ball.<\/p>\n

Look at it this way. Liverpool’s colourless midfield have struggled to implement Slot’s vision. Mac Allister has been reduced to a broken shell of his former self, drained of vigour and vitality. Ryan Gravenberch, meanwhile, has been ineffective as a number six, largely because of the collapse of the man beside him.<\/p>\n

Wharton would fix this. He has assisted five goals and created 14 big chances in the Premier League this season, only completing 78% of his passes but struggling for accuracy due to the ambitious nature of his threaded through balls.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \"England's\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Moreover, the rising star has won 4.2 duels and two tackles on average each game, emphasising his roundedness.<\/p>\n

Mac Allister simply hasn’t been able to harness such quality this season, and Liverpool are struggling because of it. It cannot seep into the new campaign, and for that reason, this central switch needs to come to pass.<\/p>\n

The real question is whether Wharton brings the punch and physicality to revolutionise Liverpool’s stuttering midfield. He is a pro passer, the closest thing Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions squad have to a Spanish maestro, but he isn’t particularly combative.<\/p>\n

However, he could work a treat alongside a powerful runner like Dominik Szoboszlai, sitting deep and allowing Gravenberch to play a more expansive part in Slot’s system.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \"Crystal\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Analyst Raj Chohan might have said it best: “Wharton improves the team 10x more than any tackling 6 would do<\/a>.” His ball-playing expertise is what Liverpool lack at the heart of the pitch.<\/p>\n

In any case, it’s a deal that Liverpool need to get done. Wharton is a game-changer and exactly what Liverpool’s creative build-up needs.<\/p>\n

\n


\n \"szoboszlai-liverpool<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
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\t\t
\n\t\t\tHe’s Szoboszlai 2.0: FSG really want to sign \u00a390m Premier League star for Liverpool
\n\t\t<\/a>
\n\t<\/h5>\n

Liverpool need to add some physicality after such brittle performances throughout the season. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Liverpool need new parts – again. It is frustrating to have drifted away from the smooth-sailing form that reaped such rewards under Jurgen Klopp, but this squad have the capacity to make their way back up. Whereas once before, Arne Slot was viewed as a master tactician whose dovetail into the dugout defied logic – […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":242210,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6808],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-242209","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/242209","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=242209"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/242209\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/242210"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=242209"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=242209"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=242209"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}