LIVERPOOL have increased their offer for Saints defender Nathaniel Clyne.

The Reds failed with a £10m bid for the right-back earlier this summer, but have returned with a deal reported to be worth £12.5m.

Saints are believed to value the 24-year-old, who has just one year left on his contract, at about £15m.

Liverpool's latest bid is said to be for £10.5m, rising a possible further £2m.

Saints have offered Clyne a bumper new contract to remain at St Mary's, but the player has stalled on signing.

The club already have Portugal international Cedric Soares in place, having signed him in a £3.5m deal from Sporting Lisbon this summer, meaning they have a ready-made replacement if Clyne does leave.