CHERRIES could be in line for a happy New Year thanks to the FA Cup and former schoolboy Adam Lallana – with a little help from Harry and Kev.
While the possible riches from progressing in the cup have been well documented, news of a potential cash windfall for Lallana has come out of the blue.
Victory over non-league minnows Blyth Spartans in Tuesday’s second round replay would guarantee Cherries another £190,000 in FA Cup earnings.
Together with £30,000 in prize money, the club would receive an additional £160,000 in broadcast fees with a third round tie against Blackburn Rovers due to be televised by Setanta on January 5.
However, the FA Cup kitty would be somewhat dwarfed should ex-Dean Court youngster Lallana leave Southampton for pastures new, as is predicted during next month’s transfer window.
The sought-after 20-year-old has already been linked with a big-money move to several Premiership clubs with Saints expected to cash in to stave off the threat of administration.
Lallana was the subject of a failed approach from Fulham during the August transfer window before Saints moved quickly to tie him to a new three-year deal.
Also among his suitors are believed to be Tottenham, with management duo Harry Redknapp and Kevin Bond both firm admirers of one of the brightest young talents in the English game.
Former Cherries boss Bond persuaded Lallana to return to Dean Court on loan last season, the midfielder making four appearances for his adopted hometown club during an injury-ruined stay.
Recent reports suggested Spurs had already enquired about Lallana and were told they would need to pay £5m when the transfer window reopens in January.
And should Spurs – or any other Premiership club – pursue their interest in the England under-21 international, Cherries would be laughing all the way to the bank.
Born in St Albans, Lallana and his family moved to Iford when he was five and he soon became a regular at a Monday night football club run by former Cherries youth team boss Terry Wateridge.
The youngster also became a member of Littledown Juniors and was soon invited by Wateridge to join the AFC Bournemouth Centre of Excellence.
However, his rich potential was eventually spotted by a talent scout from Southampton, with Lallana snapped up by the then-Premiership club as a 12-year-old in September 2000.
An independent tribunal ruled that Cherries should receive a level of compensation from Saints, with a nominal sum paid shortly after his departure.
Further stage payments were made when Lallana signed both scholarship and professional forms for Saints, although |the piece de resistance could come in the form of a sell-on clause.
The Daily Echo has this week learned that the tribunal also made provision for Cherries to receive 25 per cent of any future transfer fee should Lallana leave Saints.
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