Lallana is ‘top-class player’ says boss

BRENDAN Rodgers has described reported transfer target Adam Lallana as a “top-class player” - but would not divulge details on a summer move for the England man.

Rodgers signed Lallana for Liverpool back in 2014, and has used him as a reference point for first-rate attacking midfielders since.

With Lallana, left, out of contract in the summer, City, as well as Spurs,

Arsenal and West Ham, have been linked with the 31-year-old.

“Adam’s a fantastic player,” Rodgers said at his press conference yesterday. “He’s someone I brought into Liverpool and I’ve been aware of his talents since he was a young player at Southampton.

“He’s at the stage where he’s done brilliantly there and I’m sure he’ll be weighing up his options.

“For us, we don’t need to speak about it now. We spoke about it all through January, I don’t need to speak about the summer window. I’d only add that he’s a top-class player.”

Rodgers’ answer suggested he is indeed interested, given his history of responding to transfer links.

In the past, when names have been put to Rodgers, he has been open in denying the club’s interest if the players are not on their radar, with forthright responses on Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand, Barcelona’s Moussa Wague and Brest’s Ibrahima Diallo.

On players City have held interest in, like centre-backs Merih Demiral and Jannik Vestergaard, Rodgers has been more tight-lipped, only praising the players before moving on.