Lallana hails Clyne swoop

02 July 2015 03:17

Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana believes the club have pulled off a "great coup" with the signing of former Southampton team-mate Nathaniel Clyne.

The England right-back became the Reds' sixth signing of a busy summer when he completed a £12million move on Wednesday.

"It's a massive signing for us," Lallana told liverpoolfc.com.

"To manage to persuade him to sign for Liverpool - as I'm sure there would have been other top clubs, and even European clubs interested in him - is a great coup for us.

"When Southampton signed him from Palace you could see he had potential.

"Since then, he's developed and learnt the game - he's turned from a kid into a man on the pitch.

"He's as solid as they come for a right-back and getting forward, he's got goals in his locker.

"In one versus one situations defensively, he's the kind of full-back you just don't want to come up against."

Clyne, 24, made his England debut last November and is expected to be the replacement for Glen Johnson at both club and international level.

"Last season he probably had his best season at Southampton, got an England call up and he's been a regular in the squad ever since," added Lallana.

"I've not been surprised by his progress."

The Liverpool midfielder is also impressed by the moves the club have already made in readiness for the start of pre-season next week.

"The signings so far have been tremendous," he said.

"There's (Roberto) Firmino, (James) Milner, (Danny) Ings and now Clyne, as well as (Adam) Bogdan and (Joe) Gomez.

"It's a great variety and added to what we've already got, hopefully it can be a good combination for success."

Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen believes the club's captain-elect Jordan Henderson will be England's dominant midfielder over the next few years.

"The last season he really has developed into a world-class football player," he told premierleague.com.

"With Gerrard on his way out (to Los Angeles Galaxy) and the captaincy available, now is the time for Henderson to kick on and develop in his career.

"I think he will be Liverpool and England's dominant midfield player for years to come."

Source: PA