Liverpool new-boy Nathaniel Clyne has revealed that the persuasive words of his former Southampton teammate Adam Lallana were crucial to swaying his decision to complete a move to Anfield.
Clyne came close to signing a new contract with Saints in mid-May as he changed his agent and considered signing up for a season of Europa League football with the south-coast club, but the lure of moving to Liverpool proved too tempting for the England full-back.
Lallana infuriated some Southampton supporters with the manner of his move to Liverpool last summer and Clyne's comments describing the role his ex-Saints colleague played in his move to Merseyside may not be welcomed by Saints fans.
"We spoke a lot," Clyne said according to 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.
"He said it's a good club, a big club with a huge fan base. He said the team is good and that they are a good bunch of lads. He told me I'd be made to feel welcome if I joined."
Clyne also welcomed the chance to work with Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers, who he believes has a proven track record of developing younger players.
"The gaffer works with young players and helps them progress," Clyne added. "I still think there is a lot to come from me and hopefully he can bring the best out of me."
Clyne will join up with Liverpool's other summer signings Danny Ings, James Milner, Adam Bogdan, Joe Gomez and Roberto Firmino for the new Premier League season, with his first experience in a red shirt set to come in the club's upcoming tour of the Thailand, Kuala Lumpur and Australia.
Meanwhile Lallana hailed the transfer, saying he believes the club have pulled off a "great coup."
The England right-back became the Reds' sixth signing of a busy summer when he completed a £12 million move on Wednesday.
"It's a massive signing for us,'' Lallana told liverpoolfc.com.
"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.
"When Southampton signed him from Palace you could see he had potential.
"Since then, he's developed and learnt the game -- he's turned from a kid into a man on the pitch.
"He's as solid as they come for a right-back and getting forward, he's got goals in his locker.
"In one versus one situations defensively, he's the kind of full-back you just don't want to come up against.''
Clyne, 24, made his England debut last November and is expected to be the replacement for Glen Johnson at both club and international level.
"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,'' added Lallana.
"I've not been surprised by his progress."
The Liverpool midfielder is also impressed by the moves the club have already made in readiness for the start of pre-season next week.
"The signings so far have been tremendous,'' he said.
"There's [Roberto] Firmino, [James] Milner, [Danny] Ings and now Clyne, as well as [Adam] Bogdan and [Joe] Gomez.
"It's a great variety and added to what we've already got, hopefully it can be a good combination for success.''