Mac Allister new contract a sign of Brighton intent
There were plenty of reasons to be happy with the news that Alexis Mac Allister has signed a new Brighton contract, keeping him at the Amex through to the summer of 2025.
From a footballing perspective, Mac Allister has grown over the past year into one of the most important players at the Albion.
He is capable of operating as a number 10, a central midfielder and a holding midfielder. That versatility is huge and it has enabled Mac Allister to fill the sizable boots of Yves Bissouma, whose sale to Spurs for £25 million has not been felt anywhere near as much as it should have been.
Pascal Gross aside, Brighton have struggled with goals from midfield ever since winning promotion to the Premier League. Mac Allister has eased the problem slightly, scoring nine times since the start of the 2021-22 season.
Okay, so the majority have come from the penalty spot. But having a bloke who can score an unchallenged shot from 12 yards more often than not is something of a luxury. Just ask any of the billion Brighton players to have missed penalties in the past four seasons.
Almost as important as what Mac Allister brings on the pitch is what his new Brighton contract means off it. It shows that the Albion can convince their best individuals to stay at the Amex after a series of high-profile departures where Brighton were left with no choice but to sell.
Bissouma had to be flogged to Spurs as he was about to enter the final year of his contract having failed to sign a new deal.
Neal Maupay was sold to Everton in similar circumstances, leaving the Albion to try and navigate until at least January with Danny Welbeck as their only striker with any Premier League experience.
Dan Burn was never going to turn down the chance to move to boyhood club Newcastle United, but he too was in the final 18 months of his contract.
The likelihood is that Leandro Trossard departs in one of the next two transfer windows with his contract up in the summer of 2024.
Trossard turns 28 in December and is no doubt thinking if he is to join to a club playing Champions League football and capable of challenging for trophies, the move needs to happen sooner rather than later.
Not signing a new contract with Brighton makes that more likely. Arsenal, the Saudi Sportswashers and Chelsea are all said to be interested. Expect a bidding war for Trossard in the not-too-distant future.
Bissouma. Maupay. Burn. Potentially Trossard. Joel Veltman too is approaching the final throes of his current contract. That is a serious talent drain of players who, for one reason or another, did not extend their stay with the Albion.
Mac Allister signing on the dotted line stems that flow. It shows that the club’s ambitions can meet that of the players. That Brighton need not be forced into selling their best talents for reduced fees because of an unwillingness to commit to a new contract.
The Albion keeping one of their best and most important players might encourage others to follow suit. Veltman is a pressing issue, along with Solly March whose deal expires in the summer of 2024.
Of course, Mac Allister signing a contract through to 2025 – with a rumoured one-year extension option to 2026 for Brighton to use if they so wish – does not guarantee that he stays at the Amex until 2025. Or 2026.
Seeing as Chelsea are determined to take managers, assistant managers, goalkeeper coaches, players, recruitment specialists, Gully, the bus driver and three cleaners from the training ground from the Albion, it would not come as a surprise for a bid from Stamford Bridge for Mac Allister.
Glow Up Graham Potter and his paymasters will now though have to spend big to get their hands on Mac Allister. Whereas £25 million might have signed him this coming summer with one year left on his contract – ala Bissouma – Brighton can now reject anything below £50 million or £60 million if they so wish. Ala Marc Cucurella.
Interest in Mac Allister is not likely to stop at those bastard Blues either. If he were to feature for Argentina at the upcoming World Cup and help Lionel Messi return from Qatar triumphant, then there is every chance the biggest clubs in Europe will come calling. If they do, they will have to pay what Tony Bloom wants.
It is often true that contracts in modern football are not worth the paper they are written on, such is the way the transfer market works. Every player has his price and all that.
This new Mac Allister deal goes beyond increasing his saleable value and keeping him at Brighton for longer. It is a sign of intent that the Albion are not just a selling club.
Goodness knows we could do with it, especially with Potter and Todd Boehly determined to create Chelsea & Hove Albion.
