Brighton are leading the charge to snap up Adam Lallana as a free agent from Liverpool, offering the midfielder a deal centred around him being a leader at the club and furthering their tactical development.
Technical director Dan Ashworth has been a key driver of their interest, registered since the turn of the year, having experienced the 32-year-old’s intelligence and influence on the pitch and off it for England.
Lallana, who said his goodbyes to his teammates at Melwood on Friday to close off a six-year spell on Merseyside, is enthused by the challenge of helping Graham Potter’s side become more confident in possession. He could also help them advance in terms of game management and generating belief that they can regularly beat better resourced teams.
Lallana went through that psychological shift at Southampton under Mauricio Pochettino so is well versed in it, while returning home to the south coast also appeals to him.
It would be quite the coup for Brighton to acquire a player that has won the Premier League and Champions League, who was crucial to setting the standards of the Jurgen Klopp era at Liverpool and has helped nurture the next generation of talent at Anfield.
“There are parts of me that are excited about my next challenge,” he told the club’s website in his exit interview.
“I’m close to knowing what’s happening so there’s a mixture of emotions really at the moment.
“It’s unfortunate I won’t get a chance to properly say goodbye (to the fans), but I’m pretty sure I’ll be back at Anfield and hunting for three points against them.
“I’m sure they’ll give me a nice welcome and it’ll be nice to say goodbye properly and I’m sure that will happen next season at some point.”
Lallana was emotional throughout his farewell interview, signing out at Liverpool after 178 appearances in which he contributed 22 goals and 22 assists.
His effect off the pitch was immeasurable since his £25 million move from St Mary’s in 2014, with both Klopp and Jordan Henderson crediting him with helping the club’s restoration as domestic and European powerhouses.
