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Kopites have already had a close up view of what Nathaniel Clyne is capable of.

It was at Anfield on the opening day of last season when the pacy Southampton right-back raced down the right, exchanged passes with Dusan Tadic and lashed an unstoppable shot past Simon Mignolet.

Daniel Sturridge’s late winner ensured Clyne’s strike was in vain but the London-born defender had left a lasting impression.

Clyne was always at the top of Liverpool’s hit list as they looked to find a suitable replacement for the departing Glen Johnson this summer.

GALLERY: Nathaniel Clyne in action

Right-back was a problem area for the Reds last term. Javier Manquillo struggled following his arrival on loan from Atletico Madrid and Johnson did nothing to convince the Reds he was worthy of a new deal. Jon Flanagan, who missed the entire campaign with a knee injury, was sorely missed.

When Brendan Rodgers switched to a back three, Raheem Sterling, Jordon Ibe, Adam Lallana and Lazar Markovic all had spells at wing-back with varying degrees of success. Having reverted to a back four, Emre Can was played at right-back but the young German midfielder was horribly exposed during the run-in.

Clyne emerged from tough estate in London's Lambeth district

Liverpool needed to buy proven quality to address a glaring weakness and are on the brink of doing so having agreed a £12.5million deal with Southampton for Clyne.

Solid defensively and a threat rampaging forward, the 24-year-old looks a perfect fit for Rodgers’ attacking style. No top-flight defender made more tackles than Clyne’s tally of 115 in 2014/15,

It has been some rise for Clyne, who was rejected by Arsenal in his youth and is now an England international and en route to Anfield.

Born in the district of Stockwell in south London, he grew up on Lambeth’s tough Somerleyton estate.

On his left arm there is a tattoo of him as a toddler holding a football with the message: ‘Baller from birth.’

His collection of body art also includes some of the capital’s most iconic landmarks such as Big Ben and the London Eye as well as the sign for Stockwell Tube station.

“I’m proud of where I’m from,” he told the Guardian back in November.

“I remember there were signs up saying ‘no ball games’ until enough of us started bringing the balls out. Then they built a cage for football and games in that were all-action because the ball never goes out of play. From the get-go I always wanted to be a footballer.”

It was on the Somerleyton estate where Clyne was spotted playing by coaches from the Afewee Academy – a non-profit organisation staffed by volunteers which offers training for five to 16 year olds.

Arsenal rejected a young Clyne for being too small

Coach Steadman Scott recalled: “I picked him up in Somerleyton, a very vicious block of flats where the boys use guns. A gang place.

“The police were paying Fulham at the time to run a summer programme keeping kids off the street, so I went to Hill Mead School for them and there he was: this little boy, really good on the ball, very quiet, very competitive. A good attitude.

“I told him I was looking for a bunch to come up the (Brixton) Rec and work so, when a club comes looking, I can show them the best boys we have.”

He started out as a winger and at the age of 10 he went on trial to Arsenal but they told him he was too small. He also spent time at Tottenham before making the move to Crystal Palace’s youth ranks when he was 14.

His progress at Palace, his local club, was far from smooth as he doubted his chances of making the grade at Selhurst Park. But the support and love of his devoted mum Ann, who ferried him to training sessions, kept him going.

His breakthrough arrived when he was handed his debut by boss Neil Warnock against Barnsley at the age of 17 in 2008 and was quickly rewarded with a three-year professional deal.

“He is a lovely lad who has a bright future in the game,” said Warnock.

Clyne went on to make 29 appearances that season and 28 the year after. He could have joined Wolves after a bid was accepted by cash-strapped Palace in February 2010 but he rejected the move and stayed put.

Read: Brilliant social media reaction to Clyne's signing for Liverpool

He was ever present for Palace in 2010/11 and was crowned their Player of the Year – establishing a reputation as one of the most exciting talents outside the top flight.

The full-back clocked up another 31 games in 2011/12 and was named in the Championship Team of the Year.

The offer of a new deal was rejected and he left Palace after 139 outings when his contract expired in July 2012 – joining Southampton on a four-year deal for an undisclosed compensation fee.

“I’m overwhelmed, really,” he said.

“It’s a club with a lot of ambition – the gaffer told me that they wanted to be pushing for European football.”

Clyne credits Koeman with improving his game

Clyne quickly made his mark in the Premier League – scoring in a 4-1 rout of Aston Villa and then getting the winner in a League Cup tie against Arsenal.

In 2013/14 he was vying for a starting spot with Calum Chambers, whose move to the Emirates resulted in Clyne cementing the right-back spot for Saints last term.

Having represented England at under-19 and under-21 level, his outstanding form led to a first senior call-up last October and he made his debut against Slovenia the following month.

England boss Roy Hodgson said: “He has impressed us for quite a while, even before the World Cup he was a name we were constantly considering.”

Clyne paid tribute to Saints boss manager Ronald Koeman for helping him improve his game.

“He has given me confidence,” he said. “He says I can be one of the best right-backs in the Premier League. I have grown up.”

Clyne made 46 appearances for club and country last term as Saints finished seventh – just one place and two points adrift of the Reds.

Southampton put a lucrative new deal on the table in a bid to convince him to stay on the south coast but once aware of Liverpool’s interest the full-back’s mind was made up.

With just a year left on his current contract, Saints were under pressure to sell and having rejected Liverpool’s initial £10million offer, an improved £12.5million package has been agreed.

Clyne, who is currently on holiday in America, is expected to undergo a medical next week and put pen to paper on a five-year contract.