Liverpool's Midfield Dilemma: Iraola, Brozovic, and Mac Allister
Andoni Iraola walked into Anfield knowing the job was big. It might be even bigger than he first thought.
Liverpool staggered through last season. They escaped the Champions League group stage, but that was the bare minimum. For a club of this size, with this history, simply being there is never enough. They are supposed to stalk trophies, not just hang around the edges of the conversation.
The early mood around the campaign had been very different. With the talent at Iraola’s disposal, there was loose talk that Liverpool could sweep up everything in front of them. That fantasy faded quickly. Key attacking figures such as Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz never truly caught fire, and the team’s rhythm never settled. Belief drained away, and with it the aura that once made Anfield feel inevitable.
Now, something has to give. And in a summer where Iraola needs solutions, a curious twist in Madrid might just offer one.
Real Madrid turn to Brozovic
Real Madrid have long been an irritant for Liverpool in the transfer market, and not just because of their pulling power. In recent years, the Spanish giants have walked away with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konaté at the end of their contracts, leaving Anfield empty-handed and bruised. Liverpool only have themselves to blame for letting deals run down, but the scars remain.
The two clubs shop in the same aisle. When a top player becomes available, it is almost inevitable that both badges appear in the conversation. That is why the latest development from Spain will not have gone unnoticed on Merseyside.
According to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Real Madrid have opened a line of communication with Marcelo Brozovic. Writing on his personal X account, Tavolieri reported that a Real representative contacted the Croatian midfielder’s camp to test his interest and gather information. Brozovic, now a free agent after leaving Al Nassr, is being considered for a one-year deal, with José Mourinho understood to be an admirer.
A short-term move. A stop-gap. On the surface, it is a simple piece of business. For Liverpool, it could be something more.
What it means for Alexis Mac Allister
Real Madrid’s interest in Brozovic points to a clear conclusion: they are looking for midfield cover without committing to a major, long-term signing in that position. That matters because Alexis Mac Allister has been on their radar for a long time.
The Argentine’s name has hovered around Real’s shortlist for what feels like years. Even now, with sections of the Liverpool fanbase divided over his form, his technical quality and intelligence keep him in the frame for Europe’s elite. If Madrid were to press ahead for a marquee midfielder this summer, Mac Allister would inevitably be one of the names under serious consideration.
Liverpool can ill afford that scenario.
Iraola inherits a squad already stretched thin. Last season’s injury list exposed how fragile the depth really was. When the fixtures piled up and bodies dropped, the bench offered too few reliable answers. If that pattern repeats in 2026–27, Liverpool will not just fall short in Europe; they could slide backwards domestically as well.
In that context, losing Mac Allister without a ready-made replacement would be reckless. For all his inconsistency last term, he remains one of the more complete midfielders at the club: press-resistant, clever in tight spaces, capable of dictating tempo or joining attacks. He is far more valuable on the pitch than as a line on the outgoing transfer sheet.
That is why Madrid’s apparent pivot toward Brozovic feels significant. If Mourinho and the Bernabéu hierarchy decide that a one-season solution is enough for now, Liverpool gain breathing space. It buys Iraola time to rebuild his midfield on his own terms rather than reacting to a late, destabilising bid from Spain.
Of course, nothing is guaranteed. Plans change quickly in Madrid. A bad pre-season performance, an injury, a sudden opportunity, and eyes can turn back to long-standing targets. Mac Allister’s name will not disappear from their files.
For Liverpool, the hope is simple: that Real Madrid commit to Brozovic as their short-term fix and leave Anfield’s No. 10 where he is. Iraola has enough fires to put out without watching one of his few high-level midfielders walk away just as the season begins.
