Arsenal, Tottenham and Atletico Madrid have an interest within the buying the providers of Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister – although the south-coast membership can be unmoved except an enormous supply is available in.
The Argentine Mac Allister, 23, loved a breakthrough event in Qatar, establishing himself as one in every of Lionel Scaloni’s foremost gamers as Argentina ended their 36-year World Cup drought to triumph within the Gulf.
Owing to his performances, which have been capped by an help and a typically faultless show within the closing in opposition to France, Mac Allister has attracted the eye of assorted massive European golf equipment.
Alexis Mac Allister is attracting the eye of assorted massive European golf equipment after World Cup
Brighton, who’ve lengthy been credited with being one of many extra sensibly run golf equipment within the English Soccer League, maybe foreseeing Mac Allister having fun with a stellar event, awarded him a brand new contract on the eve of Qatar. It runs till 2025 with the choice of an extra yr.
Nevertheless, regardless of each English golf equipment’ curiosity, Sportsmail understands that their present priorities lay elsewhere with Mac Allister at current not high of their lists.
The large payment that Brighton will demand is prone to put them off at this stage, whereas Arsenal want one other ahead and Tottenham are reported to be chasing different, longer-term targets.
The midfielder established himself as one in every of Argentina’s foremost gamers on the event in Qatar
Brighton chief govt Paul Barber has praised Mac Allister, saying his performances – and subsequent consideration from ‘different massive golf equipment’ – is a ‘good drawback to have.
Mac Allister recorded a objective and help in Qatar, the latter of which got here within the closing, whereas solely 5 Argentina gamers – together with Emiliano Martinez and Lionel Messi – recorded extra minutes than him.
‘After all, when employees and gamers do nicely, as we have seen in the previous few months, they do entice the curiosity of different massive golf equipment,’ he advised BBC Sport.
‘These are golf equipment which are wealthier and have the possibility to offer gamers a brand new stage, we perceive that and we’re not naive to that.
‘All we are able to do is shield ourselves the very best we are able to by means of the contracts and hope we are able to maintain on to the participant for so long as doable, however it is a younger man who has simply gained the World Cup at 23 and arrange arguably one of the iconic objectives in World Cup historical past.’
Brighton – shrewdly – tied Mac Allister all the way down to a brand new deal simply weeks earlier than the World Cup
His help for Angel Di Maria put Argentina 2-0 up at half-time – earlier than they went on to win the ultimate on penalties
Certainly, De Zerbi has praised him within the aftermath of Sunday, saying: ‘I believe Mac Allister is a giant, massive participant. By way of high quality however extra by way of mentality. He understands the sport earlier than he receives the ball. He has a powerful character and a powerful character.
‘I’m not stunned by his high quality of play on this competitors. He was a vital participant and I believe he realized from his father (former Argentina full-back Carlos) this mentality. In each coaching and each sport, he’s 100% mentality.
‘The final sport with Aston Villa he had a improbable efficiency.’
A hall-mark of Argentina’s triumph was the belief clearly put in Mac Allister by Lionel Messi, Argentina’s talisman. The second objective within the closing in opposition to France got here from a transfer that concerned a triangle of the Paris Saint-Germain star, Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez earlier than Angel Di Maria supplied the crowning glory.
