Liverpool Close-In On 6th Signing After Saints Accept Offer For Man Utd Target

As the opening of the summer transfer window approaches, managers are working hard identifying targets and lining-up potential deals so we’ll bring you all the news and gossip. Today, Liverpool close in on Nathaniel Clyne…

Liverpool are closing-in on their sixth summer signing after Southampton accepted their £12.5m offer for Manchester United target Nathaniel Clyne, according to the Express.

Brendan Rodgers has already been extremely busy in the transfer market and announced his fifth signing of the summer yesterday after agreeing a deal to sign Brazilian attacker Roberto Firmino from Hoffenheim.

But it looks like the Northern Irishman is moving quickly to secure yet another target with the Express claiming today that Liverpool’s latest £12.5m offer for Clyne has been accepted by Southampton.

The Reds have been linked with the 24-year-old for some time and as reported by the Guardian, the Merseysiders saw an initial £10m offer knocked back in May with the Saints demanding nearer £15m for the defender’s services.

However, with Clyne set to enter the final year of his contract and showing no sign of signing an extension, it looks like the South Coast club have decided to cash-in and accept the Merseysiders fresh offer – which the Express claim is £10.5m up front with a further £2m in add ons.

Clyne is currently away on holiday so Liverpool are going to have to wait until he returns to discuss personal terms and put him through a medical, which could give the likes of Manchester United enough time to hijack the deal.

United have also been strongly linked with Clyne this summer and the Express reported earlier this month that Louis van Gaal had turned his attention back to the England international after missing out on Dani Alves.

United are in need of a new right-back as van Gaal has shown no faith in Rafael since moving to Old Trafford and Antonio Valencia was forced to fill-in for the majority of last season, so a player like Clyne would certainly fill what’s become a problem area for the club.

However, as it stands, Liverpool are in pole position to sign the pacey full-back and he would be another excellent addition if the Merseysiders could wrap-up a deal this summer.

Clyne has developed into one of the best full-backs in the Premier League over the past 24 months and has also established himself as a regular in Roy Hodgson’s England squad.

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With Glen Johnson set to leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the month, Rodgers needs another right-back and Clyne would be a superb buy at £12.5m – which is a relative bargain for an England international in today’s market.

If the deal goes through, Clyne would become Liverpool’s sixth summer signing following on from Roberto Firmino, James Milner, Danny Ings, Joe Gomez and Adam Bogdan, and the transfer window isn’t even officially open yet.