LIVERPOOL boss Brendan Rodgers has defended the amount of money he had to splash out to sign Saints captain Adam Lallana.

The Reds have paid around £24m for the 26-year-old England international – only a little bit less than Real Madrid paid for Germany’s World Cup winner Toni Kroos from Bayern Munich.

Rodgers, whose team are currently on tour in America, said of the Lallana transfer fee: “We paid what we thought he was worth and would not go higher.

“Listen, I spoke to enough people about him and have seen enough of him ... to know he would be a great signing for us. He is a great boy.

“He can score goals and create goals. He is a wonderful footballer. I have been impressed by his mentality and character.”