Manchester City hold internal discussions over signing of Brighton star

Premier League champions Manchester City have held internal discussions over Brighton and Argentina’s Alexis Mac Allister, according to a report.

Interest in the South American sensation comes amid an ongoing hunt for midfield recruitment in the upcoming summer transfer window, as City look to secure a strong centre of the park for Pep Guardiola and his backroom staff.

After the current season, Manchester City’s Catalan coach will have two years remaining on his existing deal, after Pep Guardiola put pen to paper on an extension over the World Cup period.

However, with both Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva failing to offer any sort of clarity on their respective futures at the Etihad Stadium beyond this season, officials at the Club have been left in limbo in regards to some elements of their summer transfer plans.

As such, the drawing up of a transfer targets list is well underway regardless, and with that has come an admiration for the talents of Argentinian World Cup winner and national teammate of Julian Alvarez, Alexis Mac Allister at Brighton.

In a fresh update on the situation of the in-demand 24 year-old, City are claimed to have now held discussions about the player within the City Football Academy offices, but are certainly not alone in their tenuous interest in the midfielder.

That is according to the information of Ben Jacobs, who reports this week that both Manchester City and Manchester United have discussed Alexis Mac Allister internally, but nothing more than that at this moment in time.

Fellow Premier League giants Liverpool and Chelsea are also described as ‘ones to watch’.

Crucially when it comes to a possible asking price, it is highlighted that Mac Allister is contracted with Brighton until 2025, with an option to extend by one year.

The report quotes insiders, who suggest that a fee in excess of £60 million is what the south coast club may expect.

From more of an encouraging perspective for potential suitors, Ben Jacobs reports that Alexis Mac Allister will assess his options in the summer.

However, while he speaks glowingly about the Premier League, he is reportedly not against a move to another European league, with his priority being to play in the Champions League on a regular basis.

Speaking during a recent interview, the Brighton star said of his future, “At the moment, I’m enjoying my present at Brighton and I’m not thinking about the future. But I would like my next team to be in the Premier League.”

Other players to consider when it comes to Manchester City’s summer transfer plans in midfield are the likes of Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham – who is understood to be their number one target in the position – and West Ham’s Declan Rice.

In recent weeks, Chelsea duo Mateo Kovacic and Mason Mount have been linked with moves to the Etihad Stadium, but the latter is expected to be far more unlikely than the aforementioned Croatia international.