With the Premier League season wrapped up, Liverpool have wasted no time in getting their transfer business started with a rumoured £20mil bid already lodged for Southampton captain Adam Lallana tabled earlier today.
Although there’s been no official comment from either club as of yet, media speculation — which we all know is not always the best indicator to go off of — has the 26-year old completing the move to Merseyside as early as next week. Earlier in the day Lallana was named to Roy Hodgson’s England squad, and if the transfer is completed prior to the completion of the World Cup, he’ll be the sixth Liverpool player in the team. Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has pulled no punches when asked about adding both quality and depth to his squad this summer, and on the back last season, it’s easy to see why Lallana was the first name out of the gate.
Adam Lallana vs Manchester United.by shbryo
With a return to Europe’s most prestigious club competition secured for next season, Rodgers will be in recruitment mode all summer as he looks to assemble a squad that will be able to compete at a high level both domestically and on the continent. The Reds had some problems in the recruitment category last summer with a number of high profile targets choosing to ply their trade elsewhere, but with those famous European nights at Anfield on offer — as well as a much needed influx of cash boosting the war chest — this summer is set to be drastically different from the last.
It could very well be different for Lallana as well. The Southampton captain made no secret of his desire to play at a higher level in his pre-match notes ahead of the Saint’s last match of the season and many are taking this as an admission that he’s off. “I’m ambitious,” said Lallana before Sunday’s clash with Manchester United. “I want to one day play in the Champions League.” That wish could very well become a reality should he make the move to Merseyside.
Lallana isn’t the only Saint’s player on the transfer radar with youngster Luke Shaw likely to be on his way as well. Although the South coast side will be looking to build on their rather respectable eighth placed finish, they may have to do so without a number of their star players. “The reason people look at our players is because the club does an excellent job developing them,” Southampton chairman Ralph Krueger told BBC Radio. “It should be difficult here every summer.” With names like Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott coming up through their academy, it’s hardly a surprise that Lallana — another product of their upbringing — is in the frame for a move to one of England’s biggest clubs.
“It is really important that people respect that there will be conversations going on, beginning on Monday, with clubs” Krueger continued. “That is part of the business.” And for Rodgers, this bit of business could be a big one; with a reported £60mil at his disposal, this this bid represent a sizeable chunk of that budget. If he does make the move, hopefully he won’t be yet another Englishman worn down by the weight of expectation that comes along with such a sizeable transfer fee. We’ve seen one or two of those in the past…
–Steven
Are you sold on Adam or would you rather see someone else come in to the side for that kind of money? Let us know who you’d prefer and why in the comments. If you’re good with Lallana, defend your position.
