6) Adam Lallana - €31m
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The former Saints captain was part of a 2014 summer ‘raid’ on Southampton by Liverpool, which also included the purchase of Dejan Lovren and Rickie Lambert. Lallana was a product of the Saints academy and a fan favourite; the attacking midfielder had been central to Southampton’s promotion to the Premier League and then maintaining their place. However, his transfer to Liverpool was a lengthy and somewhat messy affair, leaving a sour taste with some of the fans.
The Englishman’s career at Merseyside started off a bit late into the 2014/15 season as he suffered from a knee injury at the start; just when it looked like he would hit form, Lallana was sidelined again by a thigh strain in January. It was only during the second half of the season that he somewhat came into his own, in terms of performance levels.
The arrival of Klopp in October 2015 rejuvenated the attacker and he nailed down a spot in the first team with his work-rate, pressing and commitment to the team’s cause. Despite his work ethic, the midfielder has been found wanting in terms of end product; while his turns and passes are a joy to watch, his at-times poor finishing has exasperated the Reds fanbase.
