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Have you ever witnessed Alexis Mac Allister this fired up? It was a perfectly timed goal for the midfielder as he powered Liverpool to a victory against Atlético Madrid in the opening fixture of the Reds' Champions League campaign.
Mac Allister confessed ahead of Atléti's visit that he was "very, very sad" about not receiving a contract extension from the club during the summer, having watched fellow midfielders Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch — who arrived at Merseyside alongside Mac Allister in 2023 — sign lucrative new deals.
Mac Allister was outstanding in his debut season and played a pivotal role in the club's second Premier League title in 2024–25. However, there was a noticeable decline during Arne Slot's difficult second season in charge, leading to understandable uncertainty from Liverpool over the 27-year-old's long-term future.
The midfielder's contract at Anfield extends until 2028, so Mac Allister still has time to make his case. He has since walked back his comments, acknowledging they were an emotional response to a difficult situation, yet the issue persists. His deal is ticking down with no extension in sight.
Here are four clubs that could potentially sign the Liverpool midfielder, ranked by suitability and likelihood of a deal.
4. Man City
Manchester City know Mac Allister well, and it appeared the Cityzens had their eye on the 2022 World Cup winner as a possible Enzo Fernández alternative during the summer.
City ultimately secured their primary target, however, with Fernández departing Chelsea on Deadline Day.
And given how quickly Enzo Maresca rebuilt City's midfield after losing Rodri and Bernardo Silva to opposite sides of the Clásico divide — not to mention the financial outlay involved — it seems improbable that the Manchester club will be pursuing a midfielder of Mac Allister's profile in the near future.
3. Atlético Madrid
Diego Simeone never hesitates to bring in a fellow Argentine, and he embraced Tottenham Hotspur's Cristian Romero with enthusiasm this summer.
Romero arrives to shore up a defense that was leaky last season, and while Atléti may need to prioritize signing at least one marquee attacker next year — particularly if Julián Alvarez gets his way — they also need to plan for life without midfield cornerstone Koke.
The 34-year-old has made a remarkable 745 appearances for the club and signed a one-year extension in July. Even if he departs again in 2027, Atléti must have a succession plan in place.
Some would suggest they're already well-covered in midfield, with Morten Hjulmand and Kang Lee-in both joining the club this summer. Pablo Barrios has been superb, and there's genuine excitement around Rodrigo Mendoza and Ottó Vargas as well.
As such, Mac Allister may represent an opportunistic signing for Atléti rather than a deliberate target. That said, it's easy to imagine Simeone being won over.
2. Chelsea
It was no secret that Man City were closing in on Fernández late in the summer window, yet Chelsea appeared blindsided by the Argentine's departure.
They scrambled on Deadline Day in search of a replacement, but fell short in their attempts to land Lamine Camara and Manu Koné.
That leaves Chelsea relatively thin in midfield heading into January, with Xabi Alonso hoping Moisés Caicedo can return to full fitness sooner rather than later.
The squad depth simply isn't there, even with Roméo Lavia back available and Valentín Barco now on the books.
These two clubs rarely do business with one another, but BlueCo would deal with anyone if it served their interests. They have no allegiances, and while Liverpool would be reluctant to sell to Chelsea, Mac Allister appears to be a natural Fernández replacement.
The Blues would almost certainly enter the running for the Argentine if there's a title race to be won next year.
1. Real Madrid
Real Madrid had their sights set on Rodri, and the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner's decision to join Barcelona was undoubtedly a bitter blow for the 15-time European champions.
La Liga's elite still carry an appeal unlike any other, despite the Premier League's financial dominance, and should Mac Allister leave Liverpool next year, there's little doubt that Madrid would capture the Argentine's imagination.
Los Blancos have struggled to assert midfield control since losing Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić in consecutive years. The arrival of Silva from City should help address that, and Mac Allister — given the reduced physical demands of the Spanish top flight — would undoubtedly flourish at the Bernabéu.
Mac Allister is believed to be a player Madrid hold in high regard. It won't be long before we find out just how genuine their interest truly is.