New Southampton boss Ronald Koeman faces a major challenge this summer and next season. All his best players are slowly being snapped up by the Premier League big boys and his club is being accused of lacking ambition.
The Saints are a victim of their own success. I can’t help but wonder if fans wish their side had been a little less easy on the eye last year. Perhaps then players like Adam Lallana and Luke Shaw wouldn’t have attracted so much attention from big spending clubs like Liverpool and Manchester United.
Unfortunately for Southampton, it looks like Liverpool are coming back for more. They’ve already made a £20m bid for centre-back Dejan Lovren and rumours that they may improve their offer abound.
The Mirror note that Lovren is ‘prepared to go on strike’ in order to force a move to Anfield. This puts The Saints in a tough position. Koeman has been forced into action, demanding that Lovren joins his squad for their pre-season trip to Holland and Belgium. Check out these quotes:
“I have spoken to Dejan and I want to keep him. He has a contract. He knows he has to come back. Liverpool have a lot of money after the transfer of Luis Suarez and they will spend some money. I have to do everything to keep the best players but the decision is of the board.”
It’ll be interesting to see if the sale of Luis Suarez finally puts The Reds in a position to close this deal.
Given that the player is under contract, Southampton are in a position of power here. What’s more, they should be looking to squeeze every penny possibly out of these players. They’re in an impossible situation at the moment and are just trying to make the most of it.
Here’s hoping that the player doesn’t tarnish his reputation by striking. Furthermore, let’s hope that Brendan Rodgers is willing to spend whatever it takes to bring Dejan Lovren to Anfield this summer.
What’s your take? Will Southampton come back stronger than ever next year? Should Liverpool continue to chase Dejan Lovren? How much is the Croatian ace worth?
Please follow @ThePerfectPass for more football related action!
ThisisFutbol.com are seeking new writers to join the team! If you’re passionate about football, drop us a line at “thisisfutbol.com@snack-media.com” to learn more.
£20 Million is too much money as it is ;-( I’d try buy Germans…
Am a huge Liverpool supporter but sorry to say LFC is really bad at negotiating. They just don’t do enough to close the transfer deal. I’d say they rather hijack Chelsea or man united negotiators if not their targets.
Err… isn’t Hummels being reported as being available for 20-25mn? Between Lovren and Hummels for the same price, I know who I would choose. The only problem being, after winning the World Cup, Hummel’s price may increase.
who d wanna go to lfc after suarez has gone your a feeder club to the big boys . your days of glory are now just fond memmories , suarez was lfc now your toothless unlike your departing player !lol SFC
All this talk about ‘lack of ambition’ at Saints is total BS. How can a club which has risen from the bottom of League One to top 8 in the Prem in 5 seasons lack ambition? We have also just spent £30 million upgrading the training ground, and appointed Koeman as manager. Be serious! It is purely to do with money as far as Lovren is concerned. If he was so worried about not playing in the Champions League, then why did he leave Lyon last summer? Saints revitalised his career and he needs to show some gratitude, not to mention respect!