Saints have not given up hope of convincing Nathaniel Clyne to sign a new contract with the club – but are bracing themselves for a second offer from Liverpool.

The Reds have wasted no time in tabling a bid in the region of £10m for the England right back which was instantly rejected by Saints.

It is understood that was an opening salvo in the battle to secure Clyne, who has little more than a year left on his Saints contract.

Liverpool tried similar tactics with some of the players they purchased last summer, making a lower opening bid, and then following it up with an offer that was acceptable to Saints.

However, the club are far from writing off their chances of keeping Clyne at St Mary’s.

The protracted contract negotiations have been continuing, and are believed to have reached a point where both parties are content that the maximum that can be done has been done.

The most likely scenario for any current delay is while Clyne and his team assess what other options are available before opting to commit to Saints in a fresh long term deal.

It has been reported that Manchester United, who were previously heavily linked with a move for Clyne, have cooled their interest somewhat.

That has encouraged Liverpool to push ahead in their pursuit of the 24-year-old.

Liverpool need a right back following the release of Glen Johnson, and with Jon Flanagan out with a long term knee injury.

Clyne is viewed as the best English right back, and would be available for a fee below his normal market value this summer due to his contract situation.

There was never any realistic chance of Saints selling for £10m.

They are likely to value Clyne nearer to £20m, though if the player made it clear that he was not going to sign a new deal at St Mary’s then £15m may prove a tempting offer to get the deal done and allow the club to move on and find a replacement ahead of the new season.

Liverpool are certainly not short of Saints connections having paid out almost £50m for Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren last summer.

Whether their comparative struggles at Anfield over the past year, and a lack of Champions League football after Liverpool finished sixth, will deter Clyne remains to be seen.

Saints though will sell if Clyne decides to leave, rather than allow him to run down his contract.

Speaking before the final game of the season Ronald Koeman confirmed: “Normally that’s difficult, because it’s not business.

“Everything in football is one-year contract, sign a new one or if there is any interest for the player, then that’s a difficult situation.

“The player knows that it’s difficult to keep the player and to finish his contract. It’s difficult business.”

Clyne has been a regular in the Saints first team since he moved to St Mary’s from Crystal Palace three years ago.

He enjoyed a fine campaign last season and earned his first England cap against Slovenia last November.

He has since played three more times for Roy Hodgson’s side and has been included in the England squad for the upcoming double-header against the Republic of Ireland and Slovenia next month.

• Saints have not made a formal approach for Lille midfielder Idrissa Gueye but are monitoring his situation.

Reports in France have suggested that a £7m deal for the Senegal international was all but done.

The Daily Echo understands that is incorrect but that the 25-year-old is on the club’s radar.