Best signing since Van Dijk: Liverpool struck gold on £150k-p/w "leader"

The mood has soured at Liverpool, but the March international break can serve as the perfect tonic for Arne Slot’s side, who will hopefully return for the final stretch of a thrilling campaign with renewed vigour.

Last week was a tough one, the Reds falling in the Champions League before losing against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final – a distant second best to Eddie Howe’s side.

But the fight for the Premier League is firmly intact, with hopes rising that the odds can be defied and the domestic pinnacle conquered one year after Jurgen Klopp left his post. Farewell, beautiful game.

Success is on the cards, but fatigue has seeped in over the past few weeks, illuminating some glaring issues in Slot’s squad. Though several first-teamers need to move on, the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah. Trent Alexander-Arnold? Guess we’ll see.

Liverpool need to sort out these issues, need to sort them out quickly. But the devil, alas, is in the details.

The latest on Virgil van Dijk’s Liverpool future

Van Dijk might be approaching his 34th birthday, but he’s still one of the best defenders in the world, if not the best.

He’s Liverpool’s all-inspiring captain, a leader and a legend. The £220k-per-week centre-half is still performing at the top of his game, and it feels like FSG’s failure to tie him down to a new deal would be a blow to the very core of Slot’s squad.

After Liverpool fell to Newcastle at Wembley, the Netherlands skipper urged calm regarding his future, stressing all would be resolved in the coming months.

On one hand, it’s promising that the non-committal superstars haven’t yet penned pre-contract agreements elsewhere, though it’s increasingly unlikely all three will be garbed in Liverpool Red next term.

Whichever way you bend it, Van Dijk won’t be around forever. If he were to extend for, say, two more years, the colossus would reach his 36th year at the end. It’s completely understandable that sporting director Richard Hughes has been tasked with signing a new centre-back this summer.

That’s all well and good, but Liverpool also need someone to assume a leadership role when Van Dijk does call time on his illustrious Merseyside career.

Slot may already have the perfect man for the job.

Slot’s struck gold on Liverpool’s “leader”

Now, the obvious choice here would be Alexander-Arnold, but with the distinguished full-back, Liverpool’s vice-captain, coveted by Real Madrid as he too nears the end of his contract, it feels like Slot may need to turn elsewhere when appointing a new skipper.

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Salah’s getting on and may not be here next year anyway. Similar for Andy Robertson. Well, the man who could don the armband after Van Dijk might be Alexis Mac Allister, the deep general in Slot’s team.

All told, not much has changed for Mac Allister between this season and last. He’s less frantic under Slot’s wing, owing to the Dutchman’s tactical quality in slowing things down.

But he’s still one of the best in the business, such an unsung hero in the Liverpool centre, acting as a metronome and defensive buffer to facilitate Ryan Gravenberch’s silky press resistance, turning play over and keeping Slot’s side ticking.

Industrious, intelligent and influential in equal measure, Mac Allister has been described as a “leader” of men and a “magician” with a football at his feet by Liverpool-focused content creator Asim Mahmood.

It’s quite a big claim, but Mac Allister might even stand proud as Liverpool’s best signing since Van Dijk joined from Southampton in a world-record £75m deal. Here’s why.

When Liverpool signed the £150k-per-week Mac Allister from Brighton in June 2023, it was the first piecing-together of a new engine room, Liverpool’s having malfunctioned with the likes of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho reaching the end of their tanks.

It was an almighty task to lead the rebuild, Dominik Szoboszlai, Gravenberch and Wataru Endo following, but Mac Allister has shown an example and been instrumental in sparking last season’s resurgence and this year’s title charge.

Oh, and he cost just £35m, owing to a clause in his Seagulls contract. It was a deal met with jealousy from rivals, Fabrizio Romano hailing Liverpool’s “bargain” buy.

When Van Dijk joined the Anfield cause, he elevated Klopp’s’ tenure, setting the framework for a lasting dynasty that led the German toward hordes of silverware, namely the Premier League and Champions League.

Mac Allister has already tasted his first bit of glory on Merseyside through last year’s Carabao Cup win, but has now steered Slot’s ship within touching distance of the Premier League title.

He truly has led Liverpool to a new era that may be laden with just as much success as the last. For such a smart sum, the Argentine is indeed the outfit’s best signing since Van Dijk was brought in, and he may even succeed the Dutchman in his leadership role down the line too.

This is of course reflected through his current market value. Transfermarkt record Mac Allister is worth £76m on the current scene, marking a whopping £41m hike in less than two years since stand-in sporting director Jord Schmadtke brought him in.

Quietly masterful in the centre of the park, Mac Allister truly is a marvel and Liverpool have hit the absolute jackpot with him.

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