André could make move fans of Liverpool would be furious, but Jürgen Klopp already has the successor of Thiago

Liverpool has decided to forgo their pursuit of André in the transfer window, as they may be preparing to give Alexis Mac Allister the authority to succeed Thiago Alcântara.

On Friday, Liverpool supporters had another opportunity to examine André Trindade up close—this time against Premier League opponents. And there are few exams as difficult than the one against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City team.

Despite the opinions of Reds supporters regarding the Brazilian’s performance, it appears that a transfer to Anfield is no longer in the cards. Many who had possibly considered André as a potential successor to a certain Liverpool star may find that to be a devastating blow.

Since coming to Merseyside in the summer of 2020, Thiago Alcântara has positioned himself as a unique kind of footballer. The midfielder, who is of Italian descent, recently joined Liverpool after helping Bayern Munich win the Champions League. Jürgen Klopp will gain from having a true controller in his squad.

At the time, Pep Lijnders, his assistant, remarked of him, “This team deserves a player like him,” characterising him as a “solution” the Reds might employ on the pitch. Even though Liverpool’s midfielders weren’t naturally adept at controlling the game from the middle of the pitch, the team’s engine room was nonetheless plenty of energy and enterprise at the time.

When he’s got the ball, Thiago plays with composure and technique. He acknowledged in an interview with Liverpool’s Walk On Magazine that he is a conductor at heart. He declared at the time, “Running is not my thing.” “My role is to adjust the team’s speed to suit the situation.”

Due to his persistent injury issues, he hasn’t always been able to play a key role for Klopp, but when he has, he has shown himself to be a player that is a cut above many around him. In general, he has made Liverpool more difficult to defend against and given his team’s possession style a new dimension.

But it appears that his time at Anfield will come to an end next summer. Given that he is currently 32 years old and that his contract is set to expire in 2024, it is logical to assume that Klopp will not extend it while he works to integrate the younger players.

It will be a significant loss to lose Thiago, especially if Liverpool can’t find a replacement. It could be due to the fact that Klopp has only ever coached two natural controllers in Thiago and possibly İlkay Gündoğan: those who dictate the tempo and direction of games are hard to come by on the transfer market.

The Reds looked into a deal for André, a possible replacement, six months ago. The midfielder for Fluminense, who controlled the centre of the field for his club, went on to win the Copa Libertadores. He seldom ever lost possession and, on average, had more touches than any of his competitors.

Around that time, André was being predicted to succeed Thiago, but reports later surfaced that Liverpool, although having made an inquiry in the summer, is no longer interested in signing him (via This is Anfield). Furthermore, the Brazilian might potentially inflict the ultimate insult on the Reds in terms of transfers.

ESPN reports that André has been consulting with Casemiro because Manchester United sees him as the perfect replacement for their international colleague at Old Trafford. It’s one thing to ignore a transfer target, but some supporters will undoubtedly find it difficult to watch him end up with your fiercest competitor.

Although the reason behind Liverpool’s lack of interest in André is still unknown, Alexis Mac Allister’s ascent may have contributed to the shift in sentiment. This summer, the Argentina international moved from Brighton and Hove Albion to the Reds, where he has since excelled in a new role.

Mac Allister has been positioned further back by Klopp for the most of this season, despite having spent the majority of his career as a creative spark in the final third. Although there have been times when he has struggled defensively, overall Liverpool has played well together, and after 17 games, the Reds are currently only one point behind Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.

When he has been in possession, Mac Allister has provided particular benefits. He is calm and collected, much like Thiago, and he often tries cutting passes to his strikers. Although he is not nearly a natural controller, the World Cup winner is currently Liverpool’s best option.

It’s probable that Klopp has a plan for the team’s future that includes Mac Allister in one way or another. The Reds may be poised to give more authority to the man who has already contributed significantly on the pitch this season, since Thiago is set to depart and André is no longer travelling to Anfield.

Not nearly a conductor yet, Mac Allister. Nevertheless, at just 24 years old, he still has plenty of time to develop on Merseyside and fill Thiago’s shoes in the years to come.