Liverpool have raised their offer for England right-back Nathaniel Clyne to £10.5 million, sources have told ESPN FC, but Southampton are holding out for a fee of £15m.
Saints are readying for the departure of Clyne and the club have already signed right-back Cedric Soares from Sporting Lisbon for an initial £3.6m.
Clyne, 24, has become one of Premier League's best defenders and earned his fifth England cap as a substitute in the 3-2 win in Slovenia during the Euro 2016 qualifiers.
Manchester United are reportedly interested, while Liverpool had a bid rejected back in March, which sources told ESPN FC was in the region of £10m. However, after securing the capture of Brazil international Roberto Firmino from Hoffenheim for £29m, the Reds are keen to continue their spending and have made a bid of £10.5m, potentially rising to £12.5m according to both The Guardian and The Times.
Brendan Rodgers is keen to strengthen his defence as he was forced to play Emre Can at right-back last season with Jon Flanagan injured for the campaign and Glen Johnson, who is a free agent on July 1, only playing a bit-part role.
James Milner, Danny Ings, Adam Bogdan and Joe Gomez have all chosen to move to Anfield in recent weeks, although only defender Gomez cost a fee (£3.5m) while Ings' transfer fee will be decided by a tribunal as he is under the age of 23.
Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Rickie Lambert all moved to Merseyside from Southampton last summer and enjoyed mixed success in 2014-15 as Liverpool finished sixth and failed to qualify for the Champions League.