When Robinson announced his retirement at the end of last season, bosses at the Edgeley Park club promised a high- profile signing to replace him, and bringing the 23-year-old Kiwi to Stockport would certainly fulfil that pledge.
McAlister, who has already turned down a move to French side Toulouse, said: "I'm seriously considering Sale, seriously considering it.
"I haven't made a decision on what I am doing, but I will be making it in the next couple of weeks."
While McAlister may not play the same positions as Robinson (wing and full-back), he matches the former rugby league star for power and pace.
Once thought to be one of Sale's problem positions, competition will be sky-high for one of the two places in the centre where McAlister will be up against the likes of Rudi Keil and Elvis Seveali'i, with Chris Mayor and Chris Bell also pushing hard.
McAlister revealed that his interest in Sale stemmed from his childhood in the Manchester area, where he lived from the age of four to 13 while his father played rugby league for Oldham.
He added: "You only get one shot at it and I want to make the most of my rugby career.
"I don't want to play in New Zealand for the rest of my life, I don't want to go overseas when I'm 30. I want to go when I'm younger, to experience the world and different lifestyles.
"It's not something I've thought about overnight, it's taken a long time and I'm still thinking about it now."
If McAlister does join Sale, he will follow the likes of lock Chris Jack (Saracens), prop Carl Hayman (Newcastle Falcons) and scrum-half Byron Kelleher (Toulouse) in an unprecedented influx of Kiwi talent into Europe after this autumn's World Cup.
Sharks have already signed Scottish pair Rory Lamont and Scott Lawson, Frenchman Benoit Bourrust and South African Rudi Keil.
And with the return of so many injured players, such as Charlie Hodgson, Mark Cueto and Andrew Sheridan, Sale should once again be in a position to launch an assault on a top-four finish.
Cueto, who has just completed a two-week training stint with England in Portugal came through unscathed and is looking forward to the new season.
He said: "The weather has been glorious and I have thoroughly enjoyed myself training with the rest of the squad.
"It's been hard work but, after my problems last season, it's been great being able to train without being in pain."
But even he is not guaranteed a place in the Sale starting line-up when he returns from the World Cup.
He added: "Kingsley Jones has said that competition for places will be tough and that's how it should be.
"If I am selected to be part of England's World Cup bid, I will give it everything I have got but I know I will have to be on the top of my game when I turn out for Sale Sharks."
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