Actually, they have been sniffing around since League One. Lallana has said No every time. Steve Bruce has gone on recent record saying he has tried to sign Adam several times, down the years. Other club managers have intimated similar. Luckily, by the time they did start sniffing, Saints were in a far better financial position, otherwise Adam could have been another Andrew Surman, and we all know he didn't want to leave either. Lallana grew up in Hampshire, he likes it here and he likes playing for Southampton. He talks about getting into Europe here. Well, that means he certainly plans to stay for another season at least..! Some people like their lives settled that way, over and above trophy achievement. Besides, he has plenty of time in order to win things and why not with this club..? To me, that would make his achievement all the greater.
When i say big clubs i mean Champions league regulars. Not any old prem team. That has only been the case this season. Obviously he's been with us since league one. But do you honestly think he would of stayed with us if someone bought us who didn't show ambition of going back to the prem, or we actually stayed with Lowe and co he would of been happy to play out his career in the lower leagues? I'll be over the moon if he stays into next season and beyond. But i have been a saints fan for a long time and have seen it happen over and over again. Hence why i said only Le Tiss can be classed as a real loyal player thus far. If the club continues to progress this quickly and european football is really likely next season or the one after that at the latest he, and all those other very good players we have, will likely stay. Money alone will not keep a class player from playing at the very top.
Adam is the only player to say that he wants to achieve everything with Saints and that he wants to stay here his whole career. It may not happen for various reasons, including some out of his control, but I love that he even says it.
I imagine that the mass of English players at the minute would help keep certain players with our club and the team morale seems high.
Was that when he signed his new contract or was it more recently? He said some weeks back that, though he had never been motivated by money, having children made you feel differently. I do wonder if a large offer from WHU became more attractive to him at a time when he may have realised that he may have only a year or two left to be at his peak. At the critical time, Osvaldo was likely to play more which could affect his England place. Who could blame him really?
