Liverpool Transfer News: Latest on Adam Lallana and Thiago Alcantara Rumours

Liverpool are reportedly set to offer Adam Lallana a new long-term contract after his excellent start to the season.

That’s according to Paul Joyce of the Daily Express, who has said representatives for the player and the club will meet to discuss fresh terms and a potential deal that will run until 2019.

The Reds are said to be keen to get the extension finalised by the end of the year, with the midfielder impressing under manager Jurgen Klopp.

“The England international is settled on Merseyside and will believe his future remains there with his influence integral to what Klopp is seeking to achieve,” the piece continued.

Few would deny Lallana deserves this new contract following his wonderful beginning to the 2016-17 season. As noted by Squawka Football, the former Southampton man has added a ruthlessness in front of goal that his game was previously lacking:

It’s not just his goals that have made Lallana stand out, though. Since Klopp arrived at the club, it’s the Reds No. 20 who has often set the tempo for the rest of the team in terms of pressing and tenacity off the ball.

Lallana previously drifted in and out of games, whereas now he has a prolonged influence on matches.

Jan Kruger/Getty Images

The work he does with the ball is a joy to watch, too. Lallana can take possession in tight spaces, turn defenders with subtle body feints and play intelligent passes in the final third. It’s a blend of attributes that has made him a key man under Klopp.

As noted by James Dutton of MailOnline, at this juncture the 28-year-old looks like a player rejuvenated:

With Sadio Mane, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino all battling for a spot in the starting XI, Lallana will be well aware that he needs to keep his standards high to play regularly. At the moment, it’s a challenge he seems to be relishing, and Klopp will be hoping a new deal can push the midfielder on to even greater heights.

Brendan Rodgers Talks Thiago

TF-Images/Getty Images

Former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed he was keen to sign Thiago Alcantara from Barcelona during his time as manager.

Thiago eventually moved to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2013, linking up with Pep Guardiola.

Rodgers, who will take charge of Celtic against the Blaugrana on Tuesday in the UEFA Champions League, spoke about his effort to sign the midfielder and what other stars caught his eye at the Camp Nou, per Alex Young of Goal:

"

I've been coming for a number of years. I've always been a great lover of Barcelona and the structure of the club.

Nolito was playing in the youth team, [Jonathan] Soriano, the midfielder who signed for Bayern [Thiago]. I had hoped to try and get him to sign for Liverpool. It's understandable he signed for Bayern.

I've watched them over many years and I'm a lover of how the club operates and the values they have.

"

JOSEP LAGO/Getty Images

Thiago has been a big hit at Bayern since making the move, forming a tremendous midfield trio with Arturo Vidal and Xabi Alonso last season.

Here is a look at what Liverpool fans could have enjoyed had they been able to get the transfer over the line:

As Rodgers noted, it’s easy to see why the player opted for Bayern. Not only was Guardiola making the move to the club, they’re a side that had just won the Champions League and were seeking to push on again under the guidance of a new boss.

Given the style with which Liverpool played during the 2013-14 season, when they came so close to winning the Premier League title, you sense the Spain international would have been a huge hit at Anfield.

Rodgers, who was sacked by the Reds in October last year, will certainly lament not being able to get the playmaker in.