Liverpool have completed their sixth signing of a busy summer, as Nathaniel Clyne has joined the Reds from Southampton.
Clyne, 24, was entering the final year of his deal with Saints and the England international had refused a new contract offer at the south coast club. His signing means he will slot in as the first-choice right back at Anfield after Glen Johnson left on a free transfer this summer.
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Brendan Rodgers has once again visited St. Maryโs for a new player, as Clyne joins fellow Saints teammates Dejan Lovren, Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert at Liverpool after they all made the switch from the south coast to Merseyside last summer.
Clyne was linked with a move to Manchester United, but he now joins Roberto Firmino, Danny Ings, James Milner, Joe Gomez and Adam Bogdan as Liverpoolโs squad continues to take shape ahead of the 2015-16 season.
Speaking to Liverpoolโs website, Clyne had the following to say about his move to Anfield:
โIโm delighted and itโs a dream move for me to come here and play for such a big club with all of its history. I canโt wait to get started.
โAs soon as Liverpool showed their interest in me, I was happy and just wanted the deal to go through.
โThe gaffer has shown a lot of interest in me and this is a place where I can improve as a player, I think. Itโs definitely a good opportunity to come here and try to fulfil my potential.
โIโve played at Anfield before and know what the atmosphere is all about. Itโs a great atmosphere and will make me rise to the challenge. Iโm really looking forward to it and hopefully it can push me on to putting on good performances.โ
Clyne has made 94 appearances for Southampton in the Premier League after joining them from Crystal Palace for a fee set by tribunal at around $3 million. The attack-minded right back scored three timesย during the 2014-15 season, two of which were scorchers away at Liverpool and Arsenal, but Saints knew a transfer was on the horizon and have already signed Portuguese international right back Cedric Soares as Clyneโs replacement. He also made his breakthrough into the national team and has represented England five times.
With the player and his agent pushing for a move to a more established PL club, it seems like everyone has got what they wanted. Saints have received a sizable profit, considering Clyne could have started talking to new clubs in January 2016 about a free transfer, and Clyne has got a move to one of the giants of English soccer. Plus, Liverpool have themselves a fine right back who has proven himself to be one of the best in the PL over the past three seasons.
