Chelsea aim to land first blow in £60million World Cup winner pursuit amid ‘concrete’ interest
Chelsea have ‘concrete’ interest in Brighton midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, and could look to beat other interested sides to the punch.
Mac Allister has catapulted himself to being one of the most talked about players in the Premier League. He had been performing well in the English top flight before the World Cup break.
Indeed, the Argentinian had scored five goals in 14 appearances for Brighton.
That he has returned to the AMEX a World Cup winner has meant he is now a well sought after asset. His assist on the biggest stage, the tournament’s final, is one of the reasons for that.
He also scored a crucial goal in the 2-0 win over Poland in the group stages, and played an important role throughout the tournament. Even before the World Cup, there where whispers of interest from Chelsea.
Those can be attributed to the manager being former Seagulls boss Graham Potter. Indeed, it is no surprise that he would like to take one of his best performing players from last season to Stamford Bridge.
There have also been reports of interest from Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool.
Brighton’s chances of keeping hold of the diminutive midfielder look to be fading.
Chelsea interest is ‘concrete’
While that might be the case, the Seagulls will want to do their all to keep hold of Mac Allister. The club’s chief executive has confirmed that there has not been any approach yet and they “don’t want any”.
It would seem strange if they did want someone to come after their star. Either way, they could find themselves in a tricky position soon.
Football Insider reports that Chelsea’s interest is ‘concrete’ in Mac Allister. Potter’s role is not an insignificant one in the interest – he is apparently ‘keen to be reunited’ with his former star.
Furthermore, Chelsea want to bring in a ‘top-class central midfielder’, and they clearly think Mac Allister fits the bill.
They could be prepared to land the first blow, too, given there are a host of other sides interested.
That report suggests that the Blues will ‘have to spend’ £60million to lure the midfielder away from the AMEX. Given the financial situation at Chelsea, that would not seem a tough ask.
Mac Allister and Fernandez wanted for ‘dynamism’
The report also mentions the Blues’ interest in Mac Allister’s Argentina teammate Enzo Fernandez. Both men would add to the ‘dynamism in the midfield’, something Potter is keen to add to.
Both could well add more than the ageing Jorginho and N’Golo Kante, a pair who could walk away for free soon anyway.
It might not be that easy to snare Mac Allister and Fernandez, though. The report suggests a deal for the latter could prove ‘too prohibitive’ in January.
The Blues would surely be happy with signing just one of those men at the moment, though.
READ MORE: Brighton chief digs in over World Cup star as Tottenham, Arsenal, Liverpool urged to look elsewhere
