Liverpool fears a late bid by arch rivals Manchester United to the signing of Southampton Adam Lallana.
Manchester United was linked with a move for the 26 year old England international during the January transfer window but that move didn’t materialize and it seems they still retain their interest in the former Bournemouth man who has been selected by England manager Roy Hodgson in the England team for the FIFA World Cup 2014.
The Reds have already tabled a bid of £ 20 million for the midfielder while Southampton want at least £ 30 million for him and the Merseyside club fears they will not be able to compete with the financial power of the deposed champions if they decided to flex their muscle in the transfer window.
United are expected to go all out in this summer’s window after missing out on several key targets last summer and with the FIFA World Cup 2014 around the corner, they want to wrap up their deals quickly as well.
A bid for 18 year old Southampton left back who will join Saints teammates Rickie Lambert and Lallana and the plane to Brazil in the region of £ 27 million is already being mooted and if they offered a combined fee of £ 55 for both Shaw and Lallana, that would blow Liverpool out of the water.
Roy Hodgson has urged clubs to finish their transfer dealings before the FIFA World Cup 2014 so that players can play with an open mind in the tournament. But for Liverpool to do that, they will have to release as many as twelve players to free up the cash needed to strengthen the side that finished a close second to Manchester City in the Premier League and that gives United the edge in the transfer tussle.
