Il Liverpool ha ufficializzato oggi il terzo colpo di mercato: dopo Rickie Lambert (4.5 milioni di sterline) e Emre Can (9.85 milioni al Bayer Leverkusen), i reds hanno pescato nuovamente dal Southampton, letteralmente depredato – ma allo stesso tempo riempito di soldi – in quest’estate 2014. E’ Adam Lallana il nuovo giocatore di Brendan Rodgers: il manager ex Swansea ha staccato un assegno da 25 milioni di sterline (di cui circa 6 andranno al Bournemouth) per assicurarsi il talentuoso 26enne e battere la concorrenza di altre big inglesi. Lallana è reduce da un Mondiale sottotono, come d’altronde tutta l’Inghilterra, ma ha disputato una stagione di altissimo livello con e come il Southampton. I saints, oltre a Lambert e Lallana ceduti al Liverpool, hanno venduto anche Shaw al Manchester United per circa 30 milioni di sterline. Di seguito, il comunicato ufficiale diramato oggi dal club di Anfield:
Liverpool Football Club are delighted to announce the signing of Adam Lallana from Southampton.
The 26-year-old has put pen to paper on a long-term deal with the Reds after passing a medical at Melwood.
Lallana becomes Brendan Rodgers’ second summer signing following the capture of Rickie Lambert, who has also joined from the Saints, while a deal has been agreed in principle for Bayer Leverkusen’s Emre Can.
Upon completing his transfer to Liverpool, the midfielder said: “I’m so excited for the next chapter of my career, coming to a special club like Liverpool. I’m quite humbled and I just can’t wait to get started.
“Hopefully I can settle in quickly, and I will give it my best throughout the whole time I’m here. I hope I can add something to the team and hopefully we can win trophies while I’m here, because that’s why I’m here – for success.”
Lallana arrives at Liverpool fresh from returning from Brazil, where he was a part of England’s World Cup squad, making three appearances at the finals.
He made 250 appearances for Southampton between August 2006 and May 2014, hitting 58 goals in total and becoming club captain in 2012.
Lallana’s performances last season earned him a place in the Barclays Premier League Team of the Year for 2013-14.
