Liverpool have reportedly suffered a blow in signing Southampton midfielder Adam Lallana this summer.
The England international has been on the Merseyside club’s radar in recent times and had earlier made a £20m bid for the talented midfielder. However, the Reds’ first approach was turned down by the Saints, which saw Liverpool make an improved offer of £25m in signing him.
The 26-year-old is keen on joining Brendan Rodgers’ side in the summer transfer window. According to the Times, the talks over Lallana’s potential move to Anfield have now stalled as Southampton are adamant in allowing their star player leave for anything less than £30m.
The report claims Lallana was subjected to two bids from the Reds and Southampton have rejected Liverpool’s offer on both occasions. The former Swansea boss is an admirer of the England midfielder and wants to seal a deal as quickly as possible.
However, if the deal does not take shape, Rodgers is then likely to turn his attention on Bayern Munich winger Xherdan Shaqiri and Manchester City midfielder James Milner.
Meanwhile, the Liverpool ECHO reports Lallana may have to hand in a transfer request in order to make sure he completes his switch from St Mary’s Stadium to Anfield this summer. The Reds are keen on snapping up his services before the start of the World Cup in Brazil.
Lallana has been included in Roy Hodgson’s 23-man shortlist for the summer event with the England national team. Liverpool’s bid of £25m is like a “take it or leave it” offer for the midfielder’s signature, which is reportedly been turned down by the Saints.
One needs to wait and see whether Lallana will hand in a transfer request to force a move to Anfield.
The midfielder came up through the ranks of Southampton’s youth system and should their skipper decides to give a written request to leave his current employers, it will not go down well with the Saints fans, especially after spending close to a decade with their first team.
If he does not hand in a transfer request, then Rodgers needs to turn his attention elsewhere in making additions to Liverpool’s squad in the summer transfer window.
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