Anfield bound?

Another Saint may be on the way to Anfield next season.

According to newspaper reports in England, Liverpool are preparing at £40 million ($50m) double swoop for Southampton's Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren.

The Croatian centre back enjoyed an excellent season at the St Mary's Stadium after his £8.5m transfer from Lyon, proving beyond doubt that he can cope with the physicality of English football.

On the other hand, defence has been fingered as the Reds' weakest link in their failed title challenge last season and manager Brendan Rodgers would be keen to bolster his back line.

Already, midfielder Lallana looks Kop-bound, after indicating that the Reds are the only club he's interested in joining despite offers from Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Rodgers will have close to £50m to spend, plus anything he raises by selling off fringe players, as he prepares his side for another assault for Premiership supremacy, on top of tackling Champions League football.

The Saints' pair will be the focus of his transfer policy this summer, but he also wants a left back and a top-class forward - and he has already identified two main targets in those positions.

INTEREST

Rodgers is interested in Bayern Munich forward Xherdan Shaqiri and is confident of signing the Swiss international, who has found starts hard to come by at the Allianz Arena.

The talented attacker can play anywhere along the front line, but has been unable to force his way into Bayern's regular starting 11 since a £10m move from Basel 18 months ago.

Liverpool feel they will be able to tempt the 22-year-old to England for a similar fee.

Also, Rodgers may look to Stamford Bridge for reinforcements.

He is thought to be keen on signing left back Ryan Bertrand, as well as a loan deal for winger Thorgan Hazard, younger brother of Manchester City star Eden.

Club scouts watched as the 21-year-old scored for Zulte Waregem, where he is on loan, against Lokeren last weekend.

Hazard has been voted Player of the Year in Belgium but Jose Mourinho is reluctant to put him into his first-team squad next season.

Schalke and Everton are also interested.

However, the Blues may be reluctant to allow Bertrand, who spent last season on loan at Aston Villa, to leave for a top-four rival. - Wire Services.