Southampton reject Liverpool’s Shane Long approach despite adding Charlie Austin

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Southampton have reportedly rejected an approach from Liverpool for striker Shane Long despite the Saints bringing in Charlie Austin at the weekend, the Daily Mirror reports.

Manager Jurgen Klopp was said to be eyeing up an £8million move for the Republic of Ireland international in a bid to bolster his ailing front line that has been robbed of the likes of Divock Origi and Daniel Sturridge to injury.

However, the south coast club are keen to hang onto Long, who has bagged eight goals so far this term, as manager Ronald Koeman is aware of his side’s need for more firepower.

Liverpool have bought heavily from Southampton in recent seasons, bringing the likes of Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Nathaniel Clyne and Rickie Lambert to Anfield, as well as cutting Steven Caulker’s loan with the Saints short last week.

“Players coming in and out of here in the last two weeks of the transfer window is not in the plan. I would never say never on either direction because it’s the nature of the sport; you don’t know what opportunities present themselves,” Saints chairman Ralph Krueger said after Austin’s arrival.

“At the moment we are pleased with the depth and Ronald has shown we have different line-ups.

“Ideally would be to keep all those names in the line-up.”

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