According to a recent report by The Evening Standard, Liverpool playmaker Adam Lallana is set to make a switch away from Merseyside next summer as no further contract discussions have taken place between the player and the club. The same source has also revealed that Leicester City, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are all monitoring the situation and could battle it out for his services at the end of this campaign when Lallana’s contract at Anfield comes to an end.
Lallana’s Efforts At Anfield Can Often Be Overlooked
Even though the ex-Southampton talent has endured his fair share of injuries over the past few years, he has not allowed his head to drop and has settled in his role of being a sporadic presence in Jurgen Klopp’s match-day squads. He has formed a decent bond with the English contingent in the Reds first-team following their glorious UEFA Champions League triumph at Madrid last season.
Lallana is known for tireless work ethic and his hunger to make driving runs and interchange short, crisp passes with teammates in the final third. He is also versatile enough to feature in multiple positions in the opposition half. Klopp has often preferred to use him in a box-to-box role in midfield and has even relied on his leadership skills in recent matches.
The 31-year-old is a two-footed playmaker which means that he can make clever Cruyff turns that allow him to get out of tight spaces and create some inviting openings in the final third. Therefore, it is no wonder that so many English clubs are circling in the hopes of landing him if Liverpool let him go this summer.
What Is Lallana’s Current Situation At Liverpool?
There is no hiding from the fact that Lallana has failed to live up to the billing following his big move to Anfield in the summer of 2014. Frequent injuries have halted his progress despite his best attempts to make a career under the watchful eyes of the Kop. He has gone on to make 175 appearances for the Reds, scoring 22 goals while creating 22 assists in all competitions.
Should The Reds Sanction Lallana’s Departure This Summer?
The recent emergence of Curtis Jones and the winter arrival of Takumi Minamino has only made life even more challenging for the talented playmaker, so maybe a summer departure from Anfield could be the right option for him at this stage of his playing career. Liverpool can also look to move him on so that they can make room for new arrivals before the start of the new campaign.
Klopp has often raved about his ‘mentality monsters’ this season. Honestly, his squad’s strong character to remain unbeaten in the Premier League stems from veteran players like Lallana, who often doesn’t get the credit he deserves for his positive contributions both on and off the field.
Maybe, one final move to a top club could help Lallana get the platform he is looking for to roll back the years and become a fan-favourite once again in English football. But one thing’s for sure, Lallana will leave the Liverpool fans with a lot of fond memories, especially if he can go on to drive the Merseyside giants to their maiden title triumph in the Premier League.
