Former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant would not be in favour of swapping Alexis Mac Allister with Real Madrid’s Arda Guler.

Some speculative sources in Spain have suggested that such a player exchange could take place but, speaking to Makthavare, Pennant said that Mac Allister is too important to let go:

“Real Madrid keep trying to pinch Liverpool’s players, they’re annoying! I hope they don’t take Alexis MacAllister this summer, although you can imagine he’d settle in there well with the language and culture, it’d make him feel a bit closer to home.”

“He’s such an important player for Liverpool and he’s quite often the unsung hero; he makes the team tick. He’s not like Xabi Alonso who sprays 60-yard passes around the pitch, but he’s very clever with his smaller passes and has an eye for goal himself.”

“I hope that this transfer doesn’t materialise. Arda Guler has been mentioned in a swap deal, and I think he’s a great player and would be a good addition, but for me, he wouldn’t fill that gap.”

Mac Allister is “very happy at Liverpool”

Speaking about his son’s future earlier this week, Carlos Mac Allister made it clear that the Argentinian international has no interest in leaving Anfield:

“There’s nothing to comment. Alexis is very happy at Liverpool and hopes to be crowned Premier League champion, then enjoy a break he didn’t get last year.”

Mac Allister has three years left on his contract with the Reds and all signs point towards him remaining on Merseyside this summer.

Guler has been regularly linked with a move to the Premier League

Even prior to joining Real Madrid in 2023, the so-called ‘Turkish Messi’ had attracted interest from teams in England. Arsenal, in particular, were said to be keen on signing him.

However, a transfer to Liverpool is pretty unlikely due to Guler’s ongoing feud with Dominik Szoboszlai. The pair clashed during a game between Turkey and Hungary in March and the argument spilt out onto social media.

As Pennant mentions, the 20-year-old is a very talented young player, but he has a lot to learn.

Click here to see Liverpool’s first team squad for the 2024/25 season