Reports: Adam Lallana issued ultimatum to Southampton to force Liverpool move
Adam Lallana forced Southampton into selling him to Liverpool by telling the club he would never play for them again if they turned down Liverpool’s offer, reports the Daily Star.
Liverpool completed the signing of the former Southampton captain yesterday, in a deal that is reported to be worth £25 million. The 26-year-old signed a four-year contract with the club, bringing his 14 years at Southampton to an end.
Lallana signed for Southampton when he was still at school, and he was a key part in their rise from League One to the top half of the Premier League.
Brendan Rodgers’ interest in the playmaker had been known for some time, and Lallana is believed to have told Southampton he wanted to leave before leaving for the World Cup with England. Despite that, Southampton wanted to keep hold of Lallana, who had been excellent in the Saints’ impressive campaign last year.
Upon returning from Brazil, Lallana issued his ultimatum to force a move to Liverpool through.
A Southampton insider said: ”Adam threw his toys out of the pram and said he would never play for the club again if they did not accept Liverpool’s offer. It left a bitter taste.”
Lallana will wear the number 20 shirt at Liverpool, and in a twist of fate, his new club will face his old one in their first game of the new Premier League season.
The England international has revealed his delight at making the switch to Anfield, saying: ”Watching the run-in towards the end of last season was unbelievable, not just for myself but everyone involved in football.
“It got the hairs on the back of my neck standing up just watching them, and the style of football they were playing.
“Deep down, I was thinking to myself ‘hopefully one day I’ll be able to play in that team’.
“That dream has become a reality now, so I can’t wait for that to get started.”
Southampton signed Lallana from Bournemouth, and the Championship club are expected to receive around £6 million from the deal thanks to a 25% sell-on fee they negotiated back in 2000.