Rumour: Adam Lallana to Chelsea almost done

Discussions regarding Adam Lallana’s potential switch from Southampton to Chelsea are reportedly already under way.

Italian journalist Tancredi Palmeri last night tweeted the above, as reported by the Mirror, but it is otherwise unclear how developed the suggested negotiations are.

Left-back and Saints team-mate Luke Shaw is well reported to have established admirers at Stamford Bridge and seems the more likely deal given the wealth of attacking options already at Jose Mourinho’s disposal.

However, Lallana has enjoyed a fantastic season and recently brought his league goalscoring tally up to eight during Southampton’s 3-2 defeat away to Spurs, a figure which places him third in terms of goals scored by midfielders, behind Yaya Toure and Steven Gerrard.

Southampton fans will no doubt be concerned over the abundance of rumours forecasting departures of several key players, including Shaw, Lallana and Jay Rodriguez, though also, perhaps, excited by the types of sums the trio would apparently be able to command – especially should they feature and perform well during the upcoming World Cup.

Chelsea having contacts for Southampton's Lallana, according to Sky Italy

— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) March 25, 2014