Adam Lallana has admitted he wants to be part of “something special” after signing a new long-term contract with Liverpool believed to be worth around £150,000-a-week.
The 28-year-old has become an integral part of Jürgen Klopp’s plans at Anfield and Liverpool have been in discussions over a contract extension with his representatives over recent months. The England international is believed to have signed a new three-year contract which commits his future to the club until 2020, with an option of another year.
Lallana initially struggled at Anfield following a £25m transfer from Southampton in 2014 but has developed impressively since Klopp took over as manager. The midfielder will follow Philippe Coutinho in committing his long-term future to the club.
“I’m very proud and feel quite humbled by the show of faith from the club and the manager in particular,” said Lallana. “Signing for a club like Liverpool is obviously a big thing – but to re-sign shows you’ve obviously contributed enough that the people who make the decisions want you to stay longer.
“This is a really good place to be at the moment and for a player who wants to be part of something special, I can’t think of a better club to commit your future to. We have a brilliant squad of players who are only going to get better the longer we are together. We have a world-class manager and coaching staff.
“And because it’s Liverpool there is that added x-factor of the supporters and what success would mean to them when we achieve it here. I’m just delighted that I’m going to be part of it for even longer.”
Klopp added: “This is fantastic news for the club because Adam is a great player and an even better person. I am so pleased that we will spend more time together now and have this common future with LFC trying to be successful here.
“Adam is a natural leader and is so, so important within our team and also in the dressing room. Maybe on the outside his leadership is not seen as much as we see it each and every day at Melwood in everything he does. What I think is most exciting about this news is that this player is only just arriving at his peak.”
Meanwhile have announced plans to move their first-team training base from Melwood to Kirkby. Liverpool’s academy is already based at Kirkby and the club is seeking approval for £50m of work to bring together the senior and junior teams on one site.
The plan also includes new and improved football pitches and sports facilities for the area as well as the redevelopment of local infrastructure. A public consultation is being held next month for local residents and businesses to discuss the plans.
To enable the redevelopment at Kirkby, with plans including a new combined training centre, Liverpool would need to purchase land adjacent to the current site.
Liverpool have trained at Melwood since the days of Bill Shankly in the 1950s. Should the Kirkby project be given the go-ahead, proposals are for 160 homes to be built on the Melwood site.
The Liverpool manager, Jürgen Klopp, has been major influence in getting the wheels in motion, with the separation of first team and academy a source of frustration for the German.
“Our proposed plans to bring the first team and young players together in one location is a really exciting proposition,” the club’s chief operating officer, Andy Hughes, said. “The scheme includes state-of-the-art facilities, which will be used to support the development of our players and provides all-weather training options. We are also working closely with Knowsley council on plans to make substantial improvements for the local community.
“We recognise that Melwood has played a significant role in the club’s success and forms an important part of our history. However, the Melwood site is limited in space and is unable to accommodate our longer-term ambitions.”
