Alexis Mac Allister was one of the stars of Argentina’s World Cup win (Picture: Getty Images)

Brighton are confident of keeping hold of Alexis Mac Allister, although chief executive Paul Barber admits there was interest in the midfielder before the World Cup and there will be plenty more after his triumph in Qatar.

The 23-year-old was a key figure in Argentina’s amazing run to lifting the World Cup, with Mac Allister excellent again in Sunday’s final.

He has impressed for Brighton over the last couple of years, enough to warrant attention from other clubs before he went to the World Cup this winter, and there will be plenty of giants ready to swoop for him now.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano told BetVictor that he would be valued at around €65m (£57m), but Brighton do not intend to sell.

Mac Allister is under contract until 2025 with the Seagulls holding an option to extend for a further year, so they are under no pressure to sell one of their best, and now most globally recognised, players.

Barber explained: ‘As we’ve always said when players do well, when their profile increases there is always going to be interest in them and this will be no different.

‘There was interest in him before the World Cup and I’m sure there will be even more interest afterwards.

Mac Allister has been getting used to being teammates with the likes of Julian Alvarez and Lionel Messi (Picture: Getty Images)

‘When any of our players do well it’s going to attract the interest of other wealthier clubs. This is a young man who at 23 has just won the World Cup and set up one of the most iconic World Cup final goals in history.

‘All we can do in situations where you have got a great asset is to try and protect yourself as best as possible.

‘We’ve done that with several of our players and staff over the last several years and obviously that’s all we can do in these situations.

‘He will be sought after but we hope to keep him here for as long as we can.’

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