Liverpool set to seal £12.5m Nathaniel Clyne deal

Nathaniel Clyne: Set to move from Southampton for Liverpool

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 at least £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 interest from the Reds and their north-west rivals Manchester United. 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.

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Sevilla yet to receive Carlos Bacca offer

Carlos Bacca: Sevilla striker linked with Liverpool

Sevilla have received no offer for Carlos Bacca and have ruled out selling either him or Grzegorz Krychowiak unless their buy-out clauses are met.

Bacca, who has scored 34 goals in 71 appearances since joining Sevilla two years ago from Club Brugge, is a reported target of Liverpool, Manchester United, Roma and AC Milan.

However, no club has yet to make an official bid for the 28-year-old - who is under contract with Sevilla for another three seasons and has a 35million euro buy-out clause.

"We have not received an official offer for Bacca," Sevilla sporting director Monchi said on his club's official website. "We are not in negotiations for any important player.

"I'm no fortune-teller but top strikers in the market there aren't that many.

"Bacca has averaged 24.5 goals, 21 goals in his first season at the club and 28 in his second.

"I hope no one pays his buy-out clause.

"It's a risk we take but we can't do anything about that.

"We gave him a new contract 10 months ago and I believe he and his family are very happy here. But I cannot predict the future. "

Bacca was prolific in the Primera Division last season, scoring 20 goals in 37 appearances to help Sevilla finish fifth.

The former Atleico Junior player also scored seven goals in the Europa League, including two in last month's final that saw Sevilla beat Dnipro 3-2 to win the competition for a record fourth time.

Bacca is currently on international duty at the Copa America in Chile.

Monchi is also keen to keep Krychowiak at the club next season.

The Poland international is regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders in La Liga and has been linked with Manchester United and Arsenal this summer.

When asked about Krychowiak's future, Monchi said: "I think the president and our vice-president have been crystal clear that the players who we consider important, which is the case of Krychowiak, are not going to leave unless their buy-out clause is paid.

"Those clubs that are interested in the player don't have to call Sevilla, they just need to pay the buy-out clause directly."

Krychowiak joined Sevilla from Reims last summer in a 4.5million euro switch.

The 25-year-old is under contract with Sevilla until June 2018 and his buy-out clause is set at 30million euros.

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Southampton accept Liverpool offer for Nathaniel Clyne

Nathaniel Clyne: Reportedly on verge of Liverpool transfer

Betting has been suspended on Liverpool signing Nathaniel Clyne amid reports Southampton have accepted a £12.5million offer for the right-back.

The 24-year-old was backed at odds as short as 1/8 to move to Anfield on Thursday morning, Liverpool having been odds-on to secure his services for a number of weeks.

Liverpool's initial offer of £10million was rejected by Southampton last month but it is now being widely reported that a deal worth an initial £10.5million, potentially rising to £12.5million, has been agreed between the two clubs.

Brendan Rodgers has already landed five players this summer, £21.3million Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino following James Milner, Danny Ings, Joe Gomez and Adam Bogdan to the club.

Clyne would become the fourth player to arrive from St Mary’s in 12 months after Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Dejan Lovren joined last year.

Liverpool are also said to be in talks over the signing of Sevilla striker Carlos Bacca, while Inter Milan midfielder Mateo Kovacic and Zenit forward Salomon Rondon have also been linked as Rodgers looks to rebuild following a disappointing sixth-place finish in the Premier League last season.

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Falcao drought not his fault - Valderrama

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Firmino has 'everything' for PL - Willian

Roberto Firmino: Liverpool new boy backed for success

Liverpool new boy Roberto Firmino has everything required to be a success in the Premier League, according to his Brazil team-mate Willian.

Firmino completed his transfer to Liverpool from Hoffenheim on Wednesday, in the process becoming the club's second most expensive signing in their history.

Chelsea forward Willian, who set up Firmino's goal against Venezuela in the Copa America, is confident his fellow countryman will justify the price tag.

"He's a great player, he knows how to score and he's strong," Willian said.

"Obviously, British football is played differently.

"It's very quick and aggressive and it is tough to adapt there.

"But he has everything in order to make that change.

"As far as I'm concerned and other players like Philippe Coutinho, who will also play with him, we will try to help him with his transition to Liverpool."

Dietmar Hamann, who believes Liverpool will have done their best business "in a long time" if they now sell Raheem Sterling for £50million having signed Firmino, has also backed the versatile frontman for Anfield success.

"Physically, he's stronger than Coutinho and he's more direct," Hamann told the Liverpool Echo.

"When he travels with the ball, he can beat a player one v one.

"Coutinho and Adam Lallana like to set things out and bring others into play. But Firmino is more direct and he will look to finish himself.

"He will create chances for others but he will also score goals. He has good pace and can beat a player. Liverpool lacked pace going forward last season.

"He has played some games up front but that was more to do with Hoffenheim not having a centre-forward who was scoring goals regularly.

"I think he might be more effective out wide for Liverpool. I think he will be more effective than a Coutinho out there.

"Coutinho lights up the middle with his vision. Firmino's strengths are a bit different.

"His pace is a big asset and on top of that he's very skilful and can finish. He might play some games through the middle but I think out wide will probably be his position."

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Reds can benefit from Sterling sale - Didi

Raheem Sterling: Could join Manchester City for £50million

Liverpool will have done their "best business in a long time" if they sell Raheem Sterling for £50million, according to Dietmar Hamann.

Liverpool on Wednesday confirmed the signing of Roberto Firmino from Hoffenheim for an initial £21million deal which could eventually be worth £29million.

The Brazilian's arrival could pave the way for Raheem Sterling to leave Anfield, with Manchester City continuing their pursuit of the England winger, and Hamann believes Liverpool will have come out on top if they get the £50million asking price.

"I've not got a problem with the money Liverpool have paid for Firmino," Hamann told the Liverpool Echo.

"This is a Brazilian international whose best years are well ahead of him, not behind him. He's one of the up and coming stars in Brazil and I think he's worth it.

"Coming to Anfield will be a step up for him but I think he's ready for it.

"Look at what other clubs are spending. To attract the best you have to pay big money.

"If Liverpool get £50million for Sterling and invest half that money in Firmino the club will have made their best business in a long time - probably the best bit of business since Liverpool managed to sell Jason McAteer to Blackburn for £4million!"

Hamann, meanwhile, has no concerns that Firmino could struggle with the physicality of the Premier League and believes his capture represents a coup for a club not in the Champions League this coming season.

"I've seen a lot of Firmino and he's a player I like a lot," Hamann said.

"He's Brazilian but he has played in Germany for a number of years and I've been impressed by how he has developed.

"I've spoken to people who have worked with him and they say he won't be bullied. He has got more of a European than a Brazilian mentality.

"He is very skilful but he also has the strength and the mentality to survive in the Premier League.

"I watched him a number of times for Hoffenheim last season and I'm sure he will be able to handle playing in England. The Bundesliga is not a league where they don't tackle, the games are physical.

"To be honest, he's the type of player I thought Liverpool wouldn't be able to get without Champions League football.

"To get him is a real statement of intent and hopefully there will be two or three more big signings to come.

"When I heard that Liverpool had got the deal over the line it certainly put a smile on my face."

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Firmino 'adapability' is key to success for Liverpool new boy

Roberto Firmino has the "adaptability" on and off the field to be a Liverpool success, according to South American football expert Tim Vickery.

"He's quick, he's versatile, and he's intelligent," Vickery told Sky Sports News HQ. "When he was first picked for the Brazilian national team last November, he was an unknown to the vast majority of Brazil's football public.  

"Since then, he's looked very impressive. He's shown many virtues, and he looks like a player who is developing very nicely indeed." 

Firmino spent just one full season with Figueirense in Brazil's Serie B before moving to Bundesliga side Hoffenheim in 2010. 

And Vickery believes this bodes well for the 23-year-old's chances of succeeding in England following his £21.3million move to Anfield.

"He's not a natural attention seeker. He's a very shy character, one who transforms himself when he goes onto the football field. If this was a shy lad coming straight out of Brazil, perhaps you would worry a little bit that it would be a little bit too much for him.

"But the fact he's gone to Germany and thrived in that atmosphere, that's good news for Liverpool fans because he's shown adaptability off the field as well." 

'Movement'

Suggesting that Firmino could be deployed as a "false nine", Vickery also compared the Brazilian to former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez: "In Firmino you have someone who is extremely mobile," he said.

"If you look at the excellence of Suarez's movement at Barcelona, how he hangs on the shoulder of the last defender and enables the team to stretch the game and create space for Messi and Neymar, 

"Perhaps that's something Liverpool were lacking a little last year, so maybe Brendan Rodgers is thinking of using the mobility of Firmino as an option for playing up top. But he can also play off the shoulder of a target man striker, so it's a very versatile forward that Liverpool have bought."  

And Vickery feels Neymar's suspension at the Copa America could provide an opportunity for Liverpool midfielder Coutinho to link up with his new team-mate.

"The problem that Coutinho has had is that his position is Neymar's position, but this really is a chance for Coutinho to come in and play in his natural position and start to build up a relationship with Firmino that will serve Liverpool well next season." 

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