Thursday, 19th June, 2014
Southampton have warned Liverpool that they are leaning towards keeping Adam Lallana this summer, despite the Reds lodging a bid of £25m for the England international.
Liverpool made their move for the attacking midfielder some time ago, but Southampton's lack of a manager, combined with the player heading to the World Cup as part of Roy Hodgson's squad, saw the brakes put on any hope of a quick deal.
The Saints have already sold Rickie Lambert to Liverpool and the club's executive director Les Reeds has revealed the feeling within St. Mary's is that Lallana should stay.
Reed told the BBC: "Lallana's been here long enough, we've brought him to this level and we feel that perhaps he should give it a little bit longer."
And he warned if the Saints do allow any further players to leave, they will do so purely on their terms.
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"Anybody seriously considering coming for our players is going to have to think very significantly about the size of the fee", Reed explained.
"If we do take money it will be because it's the right amount and it enables us to improve the team and move forward."
Southampton appointed Ronald Koeman as boss earlier this week and his view on keeping Lallana is as yet unclear. The Saints would also have to pay 25 per cent of the fee received for Lallana to his former club Bournemouth.
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