Sam Allardyce believes Adam Lallana could be an ‘exceptional’ signing for a Premier League outfit when his Liverpool contract expires. But, speaking to talkSPORT, he has expressed reservations about the alleged Newcastle and West Ham target’s injury record.
With Jurgen Klopp’s Reds potentially just two games from glory, Lallana’s final year at Anfield is set to end in silverware, celebrations and open-top bus tours through the streets of Merseyside.
Yet while Liverpool look perfectly placed to dominate English football for the next few seasons, you can understand why the 32-year-old play-maker could walk away from what is officially the greatest team on planet earth right now – if the Club World Cup is an accurate barometer that is.
Lallana has started just three league games throughout 2019/20 after all and there is no shortage of rival clubs willing to offer him a bigger role.
Newcastle United are interested, according to The Telegraph. The Mirror, meanwhile, has mentioned Burnley, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham and Arsenal as potential destinations.
While Allardyce is in no doubt about Lallana’s talent, he would have concerns about handing an injury-prone 32-year-old a long-term deal.
“If he gets three years that is exceptional. Super player, super lad but there have been some injuries of a concern over the last two or three years,” says the former Newcastle and West Ham boss in conversation with Alan Brazil (29 May, 9.45am).
“You want to see a player capable of playing 25, 30 games a season. It depends on the contract, how it is laid out. If its laid out more in invectives than guaranteed money then its not as big a risk.”
Lallana missed a staggering 37 matches with a troublesome hamstring problem between 2017 and 2019. But, in his defence, he has looked fit and sharp whenever Klopp has offered him an opportunity in recent months.
As the England international has demonstrated of late, particularly during that FA Cup triumph over arch-rivals Everton, he can still dominate a game at the top level.
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