Adam Lallana transfer latest: Southampton star may have to ask for move to Liverpool with Brendan Rodgers wanting to complete deal before World Cup

Reds manager wants to get deals concluded within the next month

Brendan Rodgers (left) and Adam Lallana

With Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers hoping to get his his transfer business concluded before the World Cup finals, Adam Lallana may have to plead with Southampton to allow the transfer to be pushed through in time before the start of next month's tournament.

Rodgers has identified the midfielder, who has made Roy Hodgson's 23-man England squad for the finals, as one of his main targets to improve his Reds' side next season.

Liverpool have already reportedly inquired about a £20m offer for the 26-year-old, but the Saints want to hold out for £25m. England head for Miami in a fortnight, and it would, of course, suit both Hodgson and Lallana to have the deal completed before then.

The Reds boss claims that the next stage in improving his side is recruiting "absolute top" players with Champions League quality.

"I don't want to put a figure on how many but I would rather have one or two absolute top players than seven that might not help us," he said.

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"The World Cup does make it difficult but the club and ourselves have been preparing for quite a few months now so we will try and get the business done as early as we can."