Liverpool's MacAllister replacement 'revealed' after Argentine's comments about contract

Liverpool's MacAllister replacement 'revealed' after Argentine's contract comments football Express newspaper Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister faces an uncertain future, while Andoni Iraola may have already identified the Argentine's replacement. On Tuesday, ahead of Liverpool's Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid, Mac Allister publicly expressed his sadness at not being offered a new contract at Anfield, at a time when teammates Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch have extended their contracts this year. "I received the news that the club was not in a position to offer me a new contract, which, of course, makes me very, very sad," said the 27-year-old, whose current contract expires in June 2028. Mac Allister had the option to leave Merseyside this summer, especially after Manchester City showed interest in him, before they signed Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea for a world record fee of £125m, tying the transfer record. The Liverpool number 10 has not had direct contact about a contract extension, but it is perhaps significant that Szoboszlai and Gravenberch were offered new contracts while he was not. The World Cup winner has seen his performances decline since Liverpool secured the Premier League title under Arne Slot in 2025, and it appears that Andoni Iraola is already looking for his replacement. The six-time Champions League winners have a long-term interest in Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, and according to TEAMtalk, it is "highly unlikely" they will be able to keep their prized player after successfully keeping him at Selhurst Park. Wharton has ambitions to play regularly in European competitions, having helped Palace win the Conference League in May, and potentially sees a move to Merseyside as the perfect next step in his career. Interestingly, the 22-year-old has also attracted interest from Newcastle United, who are closely monitoring his situation, while he also remains on Chelsea's wish list, but behind Lamine Camara and Alex Scott. Crystal Palace are said to be demanding over £75m to consider Wharton's departure in 2027, and it is clear that he would be the ideal long-term replacement for Mac Allister if the Argentine leaves Anfield. Wharton has emerged as one of the best deep-lying playmakers in the Premier League and the statistics suggest he would be a huge improvement over Mac Allister. According to FotMob, the Englishman recorded an average of 8.26 line-breaking passes per 90 minutes, 0.26 expected assists (xA) and 1.55 chances created per match in the English top flight last season, highlighting his technical quality. In comparison, Mac Allister recorded 6.19, 0.06 and 1.18 in the same statistics, suggesting he did not offer the same contribution at a time when Liverpool needed a more attacking midfielder who could push the team forward. This is one of the areas where the Reds have struggled recently – an inability to control games in midfield – and Wharton would be an immediate improvement over the Argentine in Andoni Iraola. The Crystal Palace player is not only efficient at dictating the pace of his team, but is also exceptional at winning the ball from opponents, recording an average of 5.8 recoveries compared to Mac Allister's 3.79, as well as 10.78 contributions in the defensive phase compared to the Argentine's 7.78. Most importantly, at the age of 22, he still has plenty of room to improve, and that's an exciting prospect for any club that would target his transfer. /GazetaExpress/