Manchester United's reported interest in Alexis Mac Allister has encountered an early complication, with the midfielder's preferred squad number already occupied at Old Trafford. The club are understood to be weighing up a move for the Liverpool star, which would mark the first direct transfer between the two clubs since 1964.
Mac Allister has worn the No. 10 shirt throughout his Premier League career, having donned it during four seasons at Brighton before adopting it at Anfield. However, that number currently belongs to Matheus Cunha, who has impressed since his £62.5m arrival from Wolverhampton Wanderers last summer and appears unlikely to surrender it.
United are believed to see a potential opportunity in Mac Allister's situation at Liverpool. His contract runs until the summer of 2028, and at 27, the World Cup winner may not be prioritised for a new long-term deal ahead of younger midfielders Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch, whose contracts also expire in 2028.
Even if Mac Allister were to become available, there is no certainty Liverpool would entertain negotiations with United. The club's hierarchy may be reluctant to strengthen a direct rival, particularly given the historical rarity of deals between the two sides.
An alternative could emerge with the No. 8 shirt, which Mac Allister wore during his time at Boca Juniors. That number is currently held by United captain Bruno Fernandes, who has been linked with a summer move to Saudi Arabia. Should Fernandes depart, the opportunity to inherit the No. 8 could prove an incentive for Mac Allister, though his future remains uncertain.
For now, Mac Allister's dream of a United move faces a compromise unless circumstances change at Old Trafford. The club's pursuit of the Argentine midfielder would likely require a shift in shirt numbers or a change in captaincy to come to fruition.
