Russian side Zenit St Petersburg have emerged as Dejan Lovren’s likely destination in the event of the Croatian defender leaving Liverpool FC. Lovren has been widely tipped for an exit from Anfield before the current transfer window comes to end. The 31-year old center-back has fallen out of favor with Jurgen Klopp in recent months.
The Croatian international is currently the fourth-choice central defender in the Reds’ first-team squad. Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, and Joe Gomez, all supersede Lovren in the Liverpool FC pecking order. Moreover, there are upcoming talents from the Reds’ youth academy that Jurgen Klopp would be eager to use in his squad for squad rotation purposes.
Lovren’s current contract with the newly crowned Premier League champions runs only until next year. With just a year remaining on his existing deal, Klopp may be forced to sell the 31-year old this summer. By sanctioning the player’s sale, the Liverpool FC boss will get an additional boost to his transfer budget for the summer.
AS Roma had earlier been reported to be interested in securing Lovren’s signing. The Italian side were in a need of a new center-back and had identified the Croatian to fill the defensive void in their team. Reports suggest that the Roma based Serie A side are still considered to be a favorable destination for Lovren to play next season.
It had been revealed by Lovren earlier this year that he was close to leaving the Reds last summer. However, upon the insistence of Klopp, the Croatian international extended his stay at the Merseyside club further by a year.
The 2019-20 season has seen Lovren appear sporadically for Liverpool FC in the Premier League. Klopp has instead chosen to start the 31-year old in domestic cup ties for the Reds. The former Southampton FC man has also acted as a cover for Matip or Gomez in case of injuries or suspension to either of the two.
However, it does seem as if Lovren’s six-year spell at Anfield will come to an end shortly. Zenit St Petersburg seems to be the frontrunner in the race to sign the center-back and we might se Lovren play in Russia next season.
