Rumour: Liverpool and Manchester United to fight it out for Adam Lallana's signature

Adam Lallana’s play this season has earned him a place in the PFA Team of the Year

It is reported that Liverpool have skipped the queue of clubs eager to sign Southampton’s Adam Lallana, ahead of long-time suitors Manchester United.

The Old Trafford outfit had previously identified Lallana, along with teammate Luke Shaw, as a key target ahead of the Summer transfer window, in which the reigning champs are expected to undergo a £200million spending splurge to address numerous frailties throughout their current squad.

However, according to the Metro, Liverpool are now frontrunners in the race to prise one of the Saints’ most valuable assets, who the Reds are willing to offer a contract worth £50,000 a week, away from the South-coast side.

Their trump card over bitter rivals United is presumed to be the offer of Champions League football, having ensured qualification by defeating Norwich last weekend – now a distant memory in the context of Liverpool’s shattering 2-0 loss at home against Chelsea.