Chelsea

Transfer News: Lallana Line-Up For £20m-Plus Move This Summer

Adam Lallana is being lined-up for a big-money move this summer with Chelsea, Liverpool, Man Utd and Spurs all interested in signing the Southampton attacker

by
Transfer News Reporter
April 4, 2014

As we approach the business end of the season clubs are starting to make plans for the summer transfer market so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip. Today, the race for Adam Lallana hots-up.

Adam Lallana is being lined-up for a big-money move this summer with Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham all interested in signing the Southampton attacker at the end of the season, according to Goal.

Lallana has been with Southampton since he was 12-years-old and came through their acclaimed youth academy before breaking into the first team set-up in 2007. He’s since established himself as an important part of the starting eleven and has been something of a revelation this season under the stewardship of Mauricio Pochettino.

The 25-year-old has scored 9 goals for the Saints so far this season and is expected to be on the plane with the England squad to the World Cup in Brazil this summer.

However, his impressive form has also attracted interest from the upper echelons of the Premier League with Goal claiming that Chelsea and Liverpool have now joined Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in the race for his signature.

Lallana signed a new deal with Southampton last year that ties him to the club until 2018 but the report suggests that the player has told those close to him that the time is right to test himself at a bigger club and the Saints may be forced to cash-in due to financial concerns.

New director Hans Hofstetter admitted last week that he has “inherited a difficult situation financially” after it was revealed in the latest set of financial results that the club has an outstanding transfer debt of £27m. The sale of a player like Lallana would go a long way to wiping that debt out, as the club are understood to value him at over £20m.

Understandably, manager Mauricio Pochettino is desperate to hang on to the attacking midfielder but it will be extremely difficult for the Saints to resist should a sizeable offer come in from one of the ‘big boys’ this summer.

Man Utd are expected to be active in the transfer market as David Moyes undertakes a huge rebuilding job to try and get the club competitive again at the top of the Premier League and a player like Lallana would add a new dimension to their attacking play.

Liverpool are also likely to be showing ambition this summer now they that look likely to be able to offer Champions League football again, while Tottenham will be keen to add more quality to their squad after another difficult season in North London.

Chelsea’s interest is perhaps the most curious as Jose Mourinho already has a wealth of attacking midfield talent available with Eden Hazard, Willian, Andre Shurrle, Oscar and Mohamed Salah already on the books, so first team football could be difficult to come by should the England international opt for a move to Stamford Bridge.

It’s certainly gearing up to be an exciting battle for one of England’s hottest prospects and it will be interesting to see who Lallana is lining-up for at the start of next season.

Would you like to see Lallana join your club? Who do you think he’ll join this summer? Share your views below.