DBasia.news – Liverpool are rumored to be activating Dejan Lovren’s contract extension clause, but it is likely that they will continue to sell the Croatian defender in the transfer market this summer.
Reporting from Goal on Monday (13/7), Russian club, Zenit St Petersburg is one of the European clubs who have expressed interest in signing the 31-year-old player, who wants to move to receive regular playing time.
Reports in Russia shows that Zenit will use Lovren’s remaining one-year contract to get a discount from Liverpool.
However, the contract extension proves that the Reds do not want to release the player for free or at a low price.
Lovren has made 185 appearances for Liverpool since joining from Southampton in 2014 and now Liverpool has the potential to activate a contract extension clause that will keep him tied to the club until the summer of 2022.
Lovren has played 33 times in the last two seasons for Liverpool, he lost to Joe Gomez and Joel Matip as Virgil van Dijk’s partner at the heart of Jurgen Klopp’s defense.
He last started in February, when they lost 0-3 at the hands of Watford and became their first league defeat of the season.
Lovren only became a substitute when Liverpool drew with Burnley on Saturday. Italian club AS Roma is another club that has been linked with the player, after trying to borrow him last year.
Speaking to Sky Sports in June, Lovren admitted that he has had difficulty accepting being Jurgen Klopp’s fourth choice.
“That has been a test for me, but at these times, I think you should stay with the team much longer, to show your quality even if you are not on the field as a starter. The next day in the training session, you have to give everything, just to respect your teammates, “Lovren stated.
“Of course, this is not the happiest moment when I am on the bench, but it is a coach’s decision. I respect him and I am always the one who will work 200 percent.”
“That is only part of football. If 20 players can play, it will be fun, but there are only 11 positions. Whoever is in the best condition will play and that’s fair enough,” he concluded.