Brighton midfielder Alexis Mac Allister is NOT a priority target for Chelsea, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The Blues were previously mentioned, along with Liverpool and Manchester United, as potential suitors for the Argentinian international by Romano but he has slightly rowed back on those remarks:

“For Chelsea, from what I understand, he is not a priority now so they know the conditions of the deal but, at the moment, Chelsea have different priorities.”

Recruiting Mac Allister would have made sense, considering he is Enzo Fernandez’s midfield partner at international level, so it remains to be seen what other options the club are considering to strengthen their numbers in the middle of the park.

With Mateo Kovacic having a year left on his contract, the Croatian could well end up leaving Chelsea at the end of the season, while there are also doubts over the futures of Conor Gallagher, Mason Mount and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Southampton’s Romeo Lavia is known to be a long-term target for the Blues’ recruitment team, while there is also a possibility that they will opt to pursue Mac Allister’s Brighton teammate Moises Caicedo instead. From the sound of things, though, the Argentine is not expected to move to Stamford Bridge this summer.