Mac Allister upgrade: Liverpool could sign “best CM prospect in the world”
Had Liverpool failed to recover a semblance of top form heading into 2026, Arne Slot would only have a tenuous grasp on his position in the dugout.
But the Reds are now seven games undefeated, intent on putting the wretched results across the first half of this campaign behind them.
There’s no question that Liverpool are still wanting in regard to performance levels, though, with a lack of fluency and sparkle in the middle of the park leading to some nerve-wracking finishes in recent weeks.
Much has been made of Liverpool’s interest in centre-back Marc Guehi and wide forward Antoine Semenyo, but landing a midfielder in 2026 could prove every bit as important.
Liverpool could sign a midfielder in January
The 2025 January transfer window was a busy one for the Premier League, and it’s bound to be more of the same next month.
With Semenyo ostensibly headed for Manchester City and Guehi available on a free transfer at the end of the campaign, this might be the right time to add a dimension to the engine room.
And according to reports from December, Liverpool have shown an interest in Real Madrid’s Arda Guler this month, and could now be buoyed by some interesting new information.
Indeed, Spanish sources have now revealed that Rodrygo’s return to form and the abiding presence of Jude Bellingham could see the Turkish talent, 20, sold next year.
Guler is a versatile and gifted player, capable out wide and, more recently, in the centre.
Los Blancos are warming to the prospect of his departure, but told Manchester City back in October that they would have to stump up around £130m. Liverpool will not pay such a sum.
How Guler would improve Liverpool's midfield
Guler’s career has been spent across a range of positions. This is not uncommon for a young star with many technical gifts, but it’s curious to note that he has drifted into a midfield berth under Xabi Alonso, hitherto recognised as a crafty right winger.
|
Arda Guler’s Career Stats by Position |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Position |
Apps |
Goals + Assists |
|
Attacking midfield |
73 |
15 + 14 |
|
Right wing |
62 |
15 + 19 |
|
Central midfield |
22 |
4 + 6 |
|
Centre-forward |
4 |
4 + 3 |
|
Left wing |
4 |
0 + 1 |
|
Data via Transfermarkt |
||
Real Madrid are bobbing up and down this year, and while Guler’s future may lie elsewhere, he has still given a fine account of himself, actually called the “best CM/AM prospect in world football right now” by journalist Neal Gardner.
Across all competitions this season, Turkey’s new superstar has scored three goals and provided seven assists. He has started 15 times in La Liga, completing 91% of his passes, creating 2.2 chances per game and winning 55% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore.
Guler has already tussled against Mac Allister, and though he’s come out on the losing side at Anfield, the Turkish talent might just have the quality to replace Liverpool’s Argentine star.
It is sad to write these words. Mac Allister is a tremendous player, instrumental in all the success of recent years at Liverpool. But there’s no denying his decline this season, lacking his trademark energy and sharpness and completeness.
Given Dominik Szoboszlai’s emphatic form, Liverpool’s potential bid for an elite midfielder would have to come at someone’s expense, and Mac Allister might just be that person, so far removed from his title-winning level of last year.
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One Reds-focused content creator has even gone as far as to say that the 27-year-old “looks like Fabinho in his final year”, having “physically fallen off a cliff”.
Real Madrid have overpackaged their attacking ranks, and Guler may get lost in the river of players who are all competing to nail down a starting berth at the world’s pre-eminent superpower.
It bears testament to Guler’s quality that he is only 20 and has played much football for Florentino Perez’s outfit. At Liverpool, he would find the love and adoration needed to realise his potential, though there’s a good chance any deal for him would come at Mac Allister’s expense.
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