Liverpool signing Nathaniel Clyne reveals Adam Lallana talks before Southampton exit

Nathaniel Clyne, the latest Liverpool recruit, has revealed he spoke extensively with former Southampton teammate Adam Lallana before completing his summer move to Anfield.

Following another impressive and consistent season at St Mary's during which he made 35 Premier League appearances, the England right-back was officially confirmed as Brendan Rodgers's sixth summer signing on 1 July in a deal reported by the BBC to be worth £12.5m ($19.5m).

Clyne is the fourth Southampton player to be signed by Liverpool over the past year, following in the footsteps of Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Rickie Lambert.

While the latter two have largely flattered to deceive on Merseyside, Lallana remains an integral member of the first-team squad and it appears his kind words during a post-season break in the United States may have played big factor in convincing his friend opting to follow Danny Ings, James Milner, Adam Bogdan, Joe Gomez and Roberto Firmino into the club.

"Adam and I spoke a lot," Clyne was quoted as saying by the Liverpool Echo. "He said he wanted me to sign and I said if the deal moves along and gets done, I'd be with him as a teammate once again. We enjoyed our time over there in America.

"He said it's a good club – a big club with a huge fan base. He said the team is good and a good bunch of lads. He told me I'd be made to feel welcome if I joined. Knowing a few of the players at the club is good. I can join in with the lads and I reckon I'll settle down easily."

Clyne 'had his best season at Southampton'

Former Saints captain Lallana spent two seasons alongside Clyne on the south coast and has hailed his reunion with the 24-year-old as a pivotal signing for Liverpool.

He told the club's official website: "It's a massive signing for us. I played with him for a couple of seasons at Southampton and since they signed him, he's come on a lot.

"Last season he probably had his best season at Southampton, got an England call up and he's been a regular in the squad ever since. To manage to persuade him to sign for Liverpool – as I'm sure there would have been other top clubs, and even European clubs interested in him – is a great coup for us.

"I've spoken to him [about the move] and I was actually on holiday with him for a little bit this summer – we were in America together. I managed to speak to him about it there and I kind of knew it could be on the cards.

"His intentions were there and he was hoping the deal could get sorted. Liverpool explains itself. The whole world knows about Liverpool. I just said to him that I hoped the deal would get done as it'll be a great place for him to improve even more, especially under Brendan Rodgers's guidance."

The Reds boss has conduced his business in a swift and decisive fashion since his side suffered a dismal end to the season, but the opening of the transfer window has also resulted in one departure from Liverpool, with Uruguayan defender Sebastian Coates joining Sunderland on a four-year contract.

Christian Benteke remains the manager's first-choice target in terms of further arrivals, although the Echo recently sought to clarify misguided reports that a deal was imminent by insisting nothing significant had changed in their pursuit of the Aston Villa striker and a reluctance to meet his £32.5m release clause.