Liverpool manager Iraola has spoken out on the futures of midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and goalkeeper Alisson, insisting he wants to hold onto both players despite uncertainty surrounding their contracts.
Mac Allister, 27, is yet to begin talks over a new deal at Anfield, fuelling speculation he could depart this summer following a strong World Cup with Argentina. “I think Alexis has been one of the best players at the club for the last few years, and he has had a very good World Cup, so it is normal that other clubs want our best players,” Iraola said. “I want to keep my good players. I’m looking forward more to signing new players rather than losing the ones we have here.”
Alisson, who also featured at the World Cup with Brazil, has one year remaining on his contract and has been linked with a move to Juventus. Iraola, however, is eager to retain the 33-year-old, pointing to the experience he brings to a dressing room that has lost several senior figures. “Alisson is someone that has lost some references in terms of experience — he’s someone that definitely will help us in this process of adaptation of the new signings, the young players,” the Reds boss explained. “We need the references like Virgil [van Dijk], like Alisson, like Joe Gomez, players that have been here for a long time.”
Iraola also addressed Liverpool’s defensive situation, acknowledging the squad is “very thin” in that area. Right-back Conor Bradley remains “months” away from returning, which the Spaniard admits is creating a headache in the transfer market. “We trust Conor in the long term, we know we want him to be our right-back, but right now he is still a little bit far from returning,” he said.
With concerns at both right-back and centre-back, Iraola confirmed the club are actively working to find solutions. “With the centre-back, with the right-back situation, in terms of defensive depth, we are very thin right now, so it’s a solution that we are trying to find,” he added.
Image credit: BBC Sport / BBC Sport
