Liverpool told to 'think about the fee' if they want to sign Southampton's Adam Lallana

Liverpool have been warned they face a fight to sign Adam Lallana from Southampton this summer.

Brendan Rodgers' interest in the England international, currently at the World Cup in Brazil, is long-standing and the Reds have tabled a couple of bids - the last a take-it-or-leave-it offer of £25million.

There was some hope there may be movement once Southampton appointed a successor to Mauricio Pochettino but the arrival of Ronald Koeman this week does not appear to have altered Saints' stance.

Executive director Les Reed reiterated the club's position after they allowed striker Rickie Lambert - who coincidentally will face his former club at Anfield on the opening day of next season - to join Liverpool in a £4million deal earlier this month.

"Lallana's been here long enough, we've brought him to this level and we feel that perhaps he should give it a little bit longer," he said.

"Anybody seriously considering coming for our players is going to have to think very significantly about the size of the fee.

"If we do take money it will be because it's the right amount and it enables us to improve the team and move forward."