Nathaniel Clyne: Liverpool bid £12.5m for Southampton defender

England international Clyne has reportedly also been interesting Manchester United

Liverpool have made an improved £12.5m bid for Southampton and England right-back Nathaniel Clyne.

The Saints last month rejected a £10m offer from their Premier League rivals for the 24-year-old defender.

The two clubs remain in negotiations, with Southampton wanting £15m for a player who has one year left on his contract at St Mary's.

Clyne has become a target for the Anfield club after full-back Glen Johnson, 30, was released.

Liverpool are offering Clyne, who joined the Saints from Crystal Palace in July 2012, a five-year deal to become their sixth summer signing.

They announced the £29m recruitment of Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino on Wednesday to follow deals for defender Joe Gomez, midfielder James Milner, striker Danny Ings and goalkeeper Adam Bogdan.

Liverpool signed defender Dejan Lovren, midfielder Adam Lallana and striker Rickie Lambert from Southampton last summer for a combined total of almost £50m.