How do Albion replace Alexis Mac Allister?

A seemingly simple question made more complex by three factors.

One, what are they replacing? A deep-lying midfielder, the engine room or a supplementary attacker.

Two, and related to that, is there such a thing as a direct replacement?

And three, taking into account how Albion have done things in the past, are the answers already at the club (or at least on their way)?

READ MORE: HOW ALEXIS MAC ALLISTER GREW AS A PLAYER AND PERSON AT BRIGHTON

The versatile midfielder has completed his move to Liverpool for a fee which will rise to £55 million if he does well.

So what are they replacing?

The obvious way to approach that one is to think by position. But there is more than one answer.

The suggestion his form dropped off after the World Cup is harsh and perhaps overlooks the less heralded role that he continued to play through the season.

That ability and willingness to accept possession in tight, perhaps vulnerable, areas and attract opponents before releasing the ball at the right time is pivotal.

Such a role is absolutely key in Roberto De Zerbi’s way of playing but won’t necessarily show up on any highlight reels.

Carrying it out without costly mishap seems easy.

The role can almost go un-noticed - until you see someone do it badly.

Billy Gilmour has shown a willingness and ability to get on the ball in tight areas.

And it was interesting to see Yasin Ayari given a start in the final game of the season at Aston Villa.

Finding such a fulcrum in deep areas, who enjoys taking the ball under such pressure, will be key to moving on from Ale Mac.

If you are looking at Mac Allister as an attacking force, then you are probably looking at Joao Pedro.

Or perhaps Julio Enciso playing more regularly in a central role.

A report from Paraguay stating Enciso would ask for the No.10 shirt has turned out to be inaccurate.

It was rather the reporter putting words into Enciso’s mouth. He is happy with 20.

But a No.10 attacking role does not seem out of the question for the player who was not on the first team radar until after the midway point of last season.

The same can be said of Facundo Buonanotte if he develops.

Or maybe the player most like Mac Allister in that role among the current staff is Adam Lallana.

Injuries have hindered Lallana, Jeremy Sarmiento and Jakub Moder and there will hopes they are fit enough to make a bigger contribution.

Another quality of Mac Allister’s which was too easily dismissed was his penalty-taking.

Emphatic, no-questions-asked spot kicks, often at key moments in games.

Late efforts to secure a draw at home to Brentford and a win at home to Manchester United, of course.

But also the opening goals in both games with West Ham.

All moments of high pressure which were expertly dealt with.

Who takes over? Deniz Undav, if he is on the pitch at the time, is highly reliable from the spot.

And Pervis Estupinan has emerged in recent months as a great option.

In terms of the Mac Allister replacement, that term that is too simplistic.

When Yves Bissouma went to Tottenham, the team shape changed slightly with Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo in that role.

When Leandro Trossard joined Arsenal, it opened up more chances for both Kaoru Mitoma and Evan Ferguson.

Estupinan was most obviously the replacement for Marc Cucurella, but so too was Levi Colwill as a left-sided defender.

Admittedly Albion did not play with a back three too often.

It just looked a bit like that when they had Estupinan on one side and Joel Veltman on the other.

All of which is, of course, based on what would happen if Albion did no more business this summer.

As it is, we (almost) know there are two midfielders on their way in.

And we can suspect Caicedo might leave.

What we also know is that Albion have moved on from losing star players.

How many have they lost and failed to replace?

Not many and those which spring to my mind are strikers, goal-getters.

I’m thinking of Leo Ulloa in 2014, possibly Glenn Murray for a while.

More contentiously, you could argue Ashley Barnes, although he was a slightly different type of forward.

But they have evolved and advanced in recent times after departures of Ben White, Bissouma, Trossard and one or two others.

Recent partings of the ways have in some cases proved harder for the player who left than they did for Albion.

Reaction to Mac Allister’s exit yesterday was split.

Most of it was of the fond farewell variety.

Some was more “We’ll be fine without you”.

Both can be true.