Liverpool boss Klopp has a new Gundogan with Mac Allister transfer ‘complete’

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp reviews the Aston Villa game

Jurgen Klopp may be set to welcome a new Ilkay Gundogan to Anfield amid reports that Alexis Mac Allister has agreed to sign for Liverpool this summer. In working with the outgoing Brighton star, Klopp will hope to rediscover the kind of relationship that he enjoyed with Gundogan at Borussia Dortmund, where the pair win a Bundesliga title.

Gundogan has been a class act since leaving BVB to join Manchester City in 2016. With the Sky Blues celebrating their third consecutive Premier League triumph on Sunday, this season may be the German’s best of all, notching 12 goal contributions in 30 league matches.

The 32-year-old’s sublime form has even persuaded City to backtrack on their stance in contract negotiations, with reports indicating that a multi-year extension is now on the cards as Pep Guardiola and co look to keep Gundogan at the Etihad Stadium for the foreseeable future.

A player of that quality would be a huge addition to Klopp’s squad at Anfield. Liverpool fans will hope that Mac Allister can match up to Gundogan and become one of the finest midfielders in the division, and TyC Sports claim that a £70million summer deal has now been agreed.

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The signing would not only spark excitement because of Mac Allister’s stellar performances at Brighton this campaign, but also due to the similarities in profile between the World Cup winner and Gundogan.

Not only are the pair similar in stature, with Mac Allister only two inches shorter than Gundogan and of a comparable build, but also in how they love to get forward and join attacks. Both players are among the most prolific shot-takers for central midfielders in Europe’s big-five leagues, each averaging more than two per 90 minutes of action.

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Mac Allister and Gundogan are also ranked highly in terms of their pass completion rate and the number of touches they take in the opposition penalty area, but there are several areas in which each player has developed a niche of their own.

One thing Klopp will hope Mac Allister adds to his game is assists. The 24-year-old has only notched two in the Premier League this season – an underwhelming figure for an all-round midfielder, and Gundogan is streets ahead in that department.

But the Reds can take huge encouragement from an attribute that Mac Allister has and Gundogan does not – tackling. The City star tends to leave it to his defensive-minded team-mates, such as Rodri or John Stones, whereas his Seagulls counterpart takes matters into his own hands, which should give Klopp’s side added steel in the middle of the park.

Landing Mac Allister would therefore be an exciting proposition for the Anfield faithful, and the fact that they are reportedly set to pip Chelsea to the Argentine’s signature will only make the deal that much sweeter.

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