Last week Southampton rejected a bid believed to be around £10 million from Premier League rivals Liverpool for right back Nathaniel Clyne.

It is hardly surprising that the South coast club opted to turn the offer down. Long gone are the days when such a sum would be considered expensive for a full back. Clyne is now an England International and it seems that such status adds a considerable percentage to the market value of any Premier League regular.

Liverpool are reported to be planning to come back with an improved proposal that may prove more difficult to rebuff. Would a potential move though, make sense for the player? Would it really be a step in the right direction for him to swap St Mary’s for Anfield?

In many respects there is not too much difference between the clubs these days.

As far as the league table goes, it amounted to just two points and a solitary position last term. Southampton scored more goals than their illustrious rivals and conceded fewer at the other end. Clyne was an almost ever-present on the right-hand side of one of the best defences in the league and a constant threat going forward in a side that played eye-catching, attacking football.

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With the Saints last season, the 24-year-old steadily enhanced his reputation and strengthened his grip on a place in Roy Hodgson’s England squad.

Arsenal’s victory in the FA Cup final also means that his present employers have opportunity to compete alongside his suitors in next season’s Europa League. The gap between the two clubs, on current form at least, is marginal. That said, with all due respect to Southampton, a move to the red half of Merseyside would still be at least one rung higher on the footballing ladder.

The Anfield outfit remain a much bigger club in many ways, from the size of the crowd, to their trophy laden history, to their global popularity. There is no doubt that a switch would increase the former Crystal Palace man’s profile, not to mention his pay packet.

There is also the fact that despite the great work of Ronald Koeman, the proverbial glass ceiling at Southampton might not be too far away. He should carefully consider though, that while these factors might make Brendan Rodgers side seem attractive, agreeing to a transfer now might be somewhat curtail his future ambitions.

Liverpool are currently struggling against limitations of their own.

Superior spending power, bigger stadia and of course the allure of Champions League status at the clubs above them, are hindering the Reds’ ambitions of returning to Europe’s top table and challenging for a league title that has eluded them since 1990. As it stands, transferring to Anfield is no guarantee of silverware or football in Europe’s most elite club competition.

Before long Chelsea, Arsenal or the Manchester clubs might begin to enquire about Clyne’s services and it is at these sides that he might really have a chance of challenging himself and progressing his career to a higher level.

Leaving for Liverpool now would only hinder his chances of joining one of those four in the future. The full-back should continue his development under Koeman for now and enjoy his football, which would be more heavily scrutinised under the spotlight of the Kop.

In many ways his situation is similar to that of Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke who is also wanted by Rodgers.

Benteke’s manager Tim Sherwood has told the forward to avoid Liverpool as while they are better than Villa, they are not currently  good enough for the player himself. Clyne should decide how far his own ability might take him before rushing to his next club.

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