Their mistake was even appearing to consider it...shouldn't have got into negotiations. Once you do, it seems clear you are considering it....then it is harder to say no. It had now passed into the 'everyone knows it is going to happen' phase; the only question is how much. It's not enough money and we need to wait for the new manager.
Has the board entered into negotiations over Lallana and Shaw? All I've read is the media saying x amount has been offered and rejected. That, to me, does not equal a negotiation, but an offer and a refusal. Just because a club comes back with a second offer, it doesn't mean the Saints are in any way encouraging them to do so.
And all the lack of statements of denial is definitely coming from our club.....therein lies the issue.
Ian McGarry on 5live was confident that Lallana and Shaw are done deals. The media are incredibly certain on this. As we've discussed on this forum in the past the actual fee is the last thing to be concluded in a modern football transfer
But fees are often sticking points in deals. LFC are only publicly saying they won't go above £25M because we want more and they are putting the pressure on - so the deal is not certain at all. This move is a sign of difficulty in the transfer.