BBC Sport is stating that Adam Lallana is desperate to the leave the club before the World Cup with tweets suggesting that he is putting great pressure on the board to sell him quickly.

If these stories are true its a sad indictment on a player who has been a firm favourite with Saints fans and who seems to have quickly forgotten the loyalty the club and its supporters have shown him.

Lallana was quite keen to sign a lucrative 5 year contract a year ago, back then he wasn't in demand by anyone in the Premier league nor indeed England, in fact he himself could not see himself breaking into the World Cup squad as he scheduled his wedding for the middle of it.

Suddenly now Adam is desperate to leave and it "Has" to be before the World Cup starts, the reason why it has to happen so quickly is unclear, but certainly Lallana wil not be impressing Roy Hodgson who after stating he doesnt want transfer activity to disrupt his plans is suddenly finding that one of his players would rather spend some of his time whilst with the squad in Miami negotiating with his agent and leaving the camp for a medical rather than focusing on the next month with the England team and worrying about a transfer after he returns from Brazil.

One thing he seems to want to avoid though is putting in an actual transfer request, there is a practical reason for this and its all financial, if he is sold without putting in a request then he is entitled to various bonus's etc, however if he puts in a request then he has to forego those payments.

Reading between the lines Liverpool are trying to railroad Saints with the same tactics they used for Rickie Lambert, the difference is that the deal was too good for Saints and they didnt want to miss out, with Lallana and Luke Shaw for that matter its different, the club is in no hurry to sell and indeed a good World up for either could push up the price.

Ralph Krueger now has his chance to show his mettle, to show Saints fans what he may lack in football knowledge he more than makes up for in business acumen, it is imperative that Saints hold their ground, whatever Lallana or Liverpool say in the press.

For Saint fans its more than just seeing Lallana leave, most expect that to happen and although not happy see that it is part of the modern game, however the feel good factor this season has been to see four Saints players in line for Brazil, we were proud when three made it although this was tempered with sadness for Jay Rodriguez.

The transfer of Rickie Lambert did knock some of the stuffing out of Saints fans, although the gratitude for Rickie is still 99% intact there was a slight feeling that perhaps he and Liverpool could have hung on till after the World Cup and let us have a final great memory of Rickie as a Saints player.

With Adam the feeling was the same, so to see him brazenly demanding to leave is not only disapointing but a kick in the teeth for the supporters who have supported him so staunchly through thick and thin, yes he did stick with us through the dark days of dropping into League 1 and we appreciated that and we loved him for it, this is perhaps why its so hurtful to see him so desperate to leave now, perhaps he is fearful that Liverpool will look elsewhere, but he should have more confidence in his own ability, if they truly want him then they will wait a few weeks.

There are ways to do things as a player when you want to leave a club, those with decorum know what to say that keeps the fans supporting them even when they leave, that is why Rickie goes with the best wishes of us all ringing in our ears, Adam would have been better to concentrate on his England career first and then worrying about moving when he gets back, now he is losing the respect of the Saints fans as well as that I suspect of Roy Hodgson and that might just cost him a lot more in the long run than he may realise.

Photo: Action Images

IanRC added 21:57 - Jun 2 If true this sounds to me like Gerrard making use of his position in the England squad to aggravate the situation. IMO Liverpool behaved despicably over Rickie and I agree entirely that Adam should not be allowed to leave even if in fact he does want to do so, which I personally doubt. Really can't understand the fuss about Liverpool, Suarez may well be off, Gerrard has reached his sell by date and whilst they have a few promising youngsters I do not see them being able to replicate anything like their performance in the current season maybe this is why Rodgers is desperate to pinch some of our younger talent.

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cheltenhamsaint added 23:14 - Jun 2 Let us reserve judgement on Lallana at this point. He deserves the benefit of doubt on his reported stance on this matter. Perhaps we should be commenting on Liverpool FC and their bully boy tactics on this "transfer" and also the one for Lambert. In both cases , they have insisted on it taking place prior to the World Cup. It is as though they are desperate to the claim these players as theirs for the duration of the tournament and not allow us to celebrate the achievement of club and players. Totally agree that the club should not entertain any negotiations until the players concerned return from Brazil

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SanMarco added 01:28 - Jun 3 All I read was that he has told the club he wants to leave - which of course we knew anyway. I agree with Cheltenham on reserving judgement. All this 'before the world cup' nonsense has to be resisted, not because I'm bothered about whether these wantaways are still technically Saints players, but because the price might go up if these players play well. On the point about him asking for a transfer - I do wander why players who go when their club doesn't want them to should gain benefits from the transfer itself. The whole point of a golden handshake is that the employer wants you to go.

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SaintDownUnder added 04:41 - Jun 3 I assume Liverpool want the deal done as a new manager can bring a new sense of direction and aspiration. I even wonder whether part of the appeal of signing Rickie was that it improved the chances of getting Lallana too? (I stress part - we all know hes a good player in his own right). Either way - don’t sanction the deal and if the lad really does want to leave then he'll have to submit a transfer request. That way both we and Liverpool will understand what he wants to do - this wont happen of course because we can still turn down his request and he will have alienated himself to large sections of the supporters. Plus should we keep him 'against his will' what’s he going to do next season sulk and not want to play, unlikely. The other strange thing is this threat that if we don’t sell Liverpool will move onto other transfer targets, hardly a glowing testimony of their desire to sign you is it? Even if the player wants away, the only reason this deal goes through is because the board want it to, presumably because the new manager feels he can reinvest the funds and improve the squad. Either way keep calm and carry on.

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aceofthebase added 07:44 - Jun 3 Agree with most. Let him put in a transfer request. Then say NO
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REEDYREEDOREEDZ added 09:57 - Jun 3 I think its important the club take a hard line stance with Lallana and tell him he's under contract and they will not be accepting any offers for less than say £35m (a really extortionate fee). The danger, if they let him go, is how many other players will pull the same stunt? If Arsenal came in for Schneiderlin and Clyne I could see both players demanding to leave. But if the club are firm with Lallana then it allows them to take the same stance with other players and it increases our chances of keeping them. If Saints let Lallana and Shaw go then it will be very hard to stop a mass exodus without players going awol and potentially tearing the team apart.

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ExiledSupporter added 10:32 - Jun 3 I can't help but feel that Adam's desire to leave has mostly to do with the departure of MP and that there remains a prospect that he will try to take him to Spurs and from Saints point of view this may encourage something of a bidding war with Liverpool. On the other hand Liverpool does represent Champions league involvement and this might represent a stronger motivation than working for a manager that clearly rates him very highly and has developed a strong working relationship. Understand that Spurs might want a cash and player exchange deal with Andros Townsend joining us...might not be such a bad deal depending on how much the residual cash was...although Townsend's season ended rather forlornly. Good for Krueger so far...play tough with both Lallana and Liverpool over price and no deals until new manager appointed.

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BoondockSaint added 13:52 - Jun 3 Agree with all. If a lummox like Carroll is worth 35 million then Lallana is worth at least that. I know the Carroll money was crazy (didn't we all!) but that set the market prices higher and that was before the latest TV money came into the league. If we sell for any less, Rodgers will be crowing to the press the next day about the 'steal' they made. The Scouse can huff and puff as much as they want-can they risk him going to one of their rivals? Let him put in all the written requests he wants-they mean nothing. I can put in a written request to Liz Hurley-but I don't have to how far that will get me!

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Tigs added 15:38 - Jun 3 I think the main problem with the Lallana saga is the arrogant way the "big clubs" think they can treat anyone deamed "smaller" than themselves. Liverpool have got an absolute steal with Rickie, a proven PL scorer, using emotional blackmail to drive the price down. Good luck to a rare gentleman in the football world. I can see why Lallana would want to test himself in the CL, at his age it is the right time, but the only reason why a club would want to push through a transfer prior to a major tournament, with all the injury risks this entails, is purely financial. Liverpool are worried, and quite rightly, that if Lallana, or Lambert for that matter, have a storming World Cup their price could rocket, and attract the genuine super powers of European football. It's this reason Liverpool are desperate to unsettle him so close to the tournament. As for Shaw, if it's true he is trying to force a move away at 18 years old to a club not offering CL football and giving up the chance to play with his mates he's come through the Academy with for another couple of seasons then in my opinion he's an ungrateful little s**t. Good luck Rickie & Adam (wherever you end up). Luke, let's hope your dip in form (which will come) is not as permanent as others who've left us too soon, NOT !!!!

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