Southampton have decided to play hardball over Liverpool’s efforts to sign England international midfielder Adam Lallana after the Reds are said to have already put a £20 million offer on the table.
The Saints meanwhile want to see the 26-year-old leave in a structured deal that would see Southampton get closer to £30 million for talented midfielder.
The Reds admit that there is a little room left for negotiation, but have stressed that they will not break the bank and that if Southampton continue with their demands Liverpool will just walk away and look elsewhere according to the Daily Star.
The problem Southampton has is that Bournemouth still own 25% of Lallana, and would get a quarter of his selling price.
Liverpool are also said to be interested in £8 million rated Croatian defender Dejan Lovren, but have stressed that the two deals are in no way tied together.
Liverpool looks at the 24-year-old as a replacement for Daniel Agger who appears to be heading out of Anfield this summer after spending the greater part of last season on the bench.
Meanwhile, former Southampton chairman Nicola Cortese has accused his former club of lacking any kind of ambition if they just look to turn a quick profit on their star players.
“We created those talents. It was key to keep them,” said the Italian, who resigned from the club last December.
“You don’t produce them just to sell, otherwise you give away your ambition.
“I was confident about plenty of conversations I had with the players.
“I knew the players themselves wanted to stick together because this vision was something they believed in, too.
“I didn’t see any reason for them to go.”
