Southampton have ruled out selling Nathaniel Clyne for anything less than £15m. The Saints are playing hardball over their right-back, despite sealing a deal for his likely replacement, Sporting Lisbon’s Cedric Soares, yesterday.
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According to the Daily Mirror, the South Coast club are ready to sell this summer, provided their demands are met.
Liverpool have already seen a £10m bid rejected (via BBC Sport), while it was rumoured on Wednesday that we were preparing a second £12m offer (via Evening Standard). Unfortunately, Southampton are refusing to meet us half-way and are understandably looking to hold out for as much as possible.
The arrival of 23-year-old Portuguese international Soares should at least open the door for Clyne’s departure, although we need to be wary of the fact that other potential suitors for Clyne – most notably Manchester United – will have noticed this fact as well.
United’s interest – reported here by the Daily Star – look to have faded over recent weeks, but could now be reinvigorated if they think Southampton are likely to sell.
As the Mirror report, Clyne has missed various deadlines set by manager Ronald Koeman to extend his current deal at the club – which expires next year – and, as a result, the Saints are now resigned to losing the England full-back.
Liverpool are in desperate need of a new right-sided defender after losing Glen Johnson at the end of last season. His departure, combined with Jon Flanagan’s injury problems, have left youngsters Javier Manquillo and Andre Wisdom as the only options for the position currently in our squad.