UPDATE – Lovren’s transfer to Zenit Saint Petersburg is confirmed
Dejan Lovren is set to agree upon personal terms with Zenit St Petersburg following reports that suggest Liverpool FC have accepted the Russian side’s bid worth £11 million. The Croatian is seemingly very close to the exit door and could seal his move away from Merseyside in the coming days.
According to rumors last week, Zenit St Petersburg had entered the fray to sign Lovren this summer. However, the Russian club were only willing to offer £9 million at first for the Liverpool FC center-back. On the other hand, the Reds were holding out for a £15 million bid to be tabled for 31-year old Lovren.
The Croatian international’s first-team involvement over the past two seasons has been very limited. Liverpool FC boss Jurgen Klopp has given preference to Joe Gomez and Joel Matip in recent times, leaving Lovren on the fringes of the German coach’s plans for the future.
The 31-year old has made just 15 competitive appearances in the 2019-20 season for the Reds. Thus, a move linking Lovren away from Anfield comes as no surprise for the Liverpool FC supporters. The Croatian international will be hoping for greater first-team opportunities at the club level ahead of next year’s UEFA Euros.
Lovren had revealed a while ago that he was very close to leaving Liverpool FC last summer. Italian giants AS Roma had been believed to have attempted to sign the center-back at that time. However, Jurgen Klopp’s persuasion had convinced the 31-year old to extend his stay at the Merseyside club.
And it seems that Liverpool FC have finally given up on keeping Lovren at the club beyond the current season. The Reds have reportedly accepted the £11 million offer coming in from Russia and have allowed Lovren to initiate contract talks with Zenit.
In his pre-match conference ahead of Liverpool FC’s visit to Newcastle United, Klopp had refused to entertain questions over Lovren’s future at the club. The Reds boss had stated that no decision had been taken over the Croatian’s departure from Anfield.
