Saturday 27 June 2015 19:55, UK
Liverpool are close to reaching a £12.5m agreement to sign Southampton’s Nathaniel Clyne, according to Sky sources.
Sky Sports reported earlier this month that the Reds had seen a £10m bid rejected by Saints, who want £15m for the highly-sought-after right-back.
It is believed the Merseyside club are in discussions over a structured deal that would take the fee up towards the £15m-mark based on certain conditions that would eventually be met by the player.
Clyne, 24, has just a year left on his Southampton deal and has been stalling over a new contract amid reported interest from the Reds' north-west rivals Manchester United - and Liverpool have been keen to make Clyne their new right-back after the release of Glen Johnson.
Clyne joined Southampton from Crystal Palace in 2012 and made 41 appearances for Ronald Koeman’s team last term, earning his first England cap in November.
He played the full 90 minutes in a 3-1 European qualifying victory over Slovenia, and has gone on to make four international appearances.
Liverpool have been swift in their transfer dealings so far in the current window, landing Danny Ings and James Milner on free transfers as well as young Brazilian attacker Roberto Firmino.
Former Liverpool defender and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher quickly took to social media to endorse his former side's latest move in the transfer market.
Carragher said on KICCA: “I saw Nathaniel Clyne at St Mary's after a game last season and told him to sign for LFC – he took my advice!
“I think it's another good signing for the club to go along with the other business already done.
“The early deals were a couple of squad players and also James Milner, who are all an improvement on what's currently in the squad.”
