Is Adam Lallana really worth £30million? (Picture: Reuters)

The latest reports that Southampton are seeking closer to £30million for midfielder Adam Lallana should see Liverpool look elsewhere to strengthen their squad this summer.

We previously wrote how signing the 26-year-old would be a perfect start to the summer for Brendan Rodgers’ squad – and it would. But at that price, it wouldn’t.

Lallana is undoubtedly a talented player and one who would strengthen Liverpool’s squad, if not necessarily their starting XI.

But Southampton’s desire to get such a large fee, seemingly due to his former club Bournemouth retaining a 25 per cent sell-on clause, would be a mistake for Liverpool to pay that amount.




There is always going to be a premium on a player who has just been named in the PFA team of the year, is in England’s World Cup squad, and is sought after by other clubs. But Liverpool should stick to their guns and not bid above £20m.

Sadly, that will likely mean a team such as Manchester City and/or Tottenham bidding nearer the amount Southampton want, and Lallana could end up joining one of those sides instead – another target missed for Liverpool.

Swiss winger Xherdan Shaqiri could be a cheaper alternative to Lallana for Liverpool (Picture: Getty Images)

But Rodgers and Liverpool do have other options. Xherdan Shaqiri is seemingly the main other option and the Bayern Munich attacker is apparently available for a much lower fee.

Shaqiri too also fits the profile of player that Liverpool are signing – young players, four years younger than Lallana at the of age 22, and who have the potential to improve further.

While missing out on Lallana would be a blow, signing someone such as Shaqiri for half the price and using that remaining money to strengthen other areas of the side would soften the blow and provide a more sensible solution for Liverpool.

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