Adam Lallana Reportedly Targeted by Liverpool for January Transfer

Adam Lallana has emerged as a key January transfer target for Liverpool, according to Gary Jones of the Daily Star:

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The 25-year-old is adored by the St Mary's faithful after snubbing offers from Premier League clubs to stay loyal to the south coast outfit - even when they were propping up League One.

But Lallana has now been identified as a winter transfer target for the Reds to help keep the pressure on top-of-the-league rivals Arsenal.

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The English attacking midfielder has been in tremendous form for Southampton so far this season and looks set to win his first full international cap against either Chile or Germany after being called up to the England squad by Roy Hodgson.

His inclusion in the national squad followed a weekend to remember for the Saints playmaker after he scored a blockbuster goal against Hull City in his side's 4-1 Premier League victory.

As one of the key players in Mauricio Pochettino's hard-working and pressing-based system, the Englishman hasn't just been a creative presence, as evidenced by this WhoScored stat:

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Adam Lallana: Has won possession in the attacking third of the pitch 13 times this season - at least 5 more than any other player in the PL

— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) November 7, 2013"

Brendan Rodgers is said to be a huge admirer of Lallana's style of play, which would blend well with the Liverpool boss' footballing philosophy.

One of the key tenets of the former Swansea manager's ideas is his belief in players with "courage when it comes to being in possession of a football," as reported by David Maddock of Mirror Football.

Lallana is keen to impress on England duty, and a move to Anfield—provided he is guaranteed first-team football—would surely only help him make his case for regular first-team opportunities on the international scene.

The Southampton man spoke of his desire to go to Brazil, per Jones' report.

"Every footballer in the whole Premier League would love to go to the World Cup. It is what dreams are made of, it’s the pinnacle, so it’d be silly to say anything else really."

With Steven Gerrard's withdrawal from England duty also a worry for Liverpool, Rodgers will be hoping that a move for Lallana in January can give the Reds the strength in depth and midfield cover they need to reinforce their title challenge.

Currently, Rodgers only has Jordan Henderson and Lucas Leiva as genuine options for the centre of his midfield in Gerrard's absence, so Lallana would greatly improve a thin area of Liverpool's squad.