Report: Dejan Lovren set to join Zenit and leave Liverpool for nothing

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Russian outlet Championat have claimed that Dejan Lovren is close to leaving Liverpool and will join Zenit St. Petersburg on a free transfer – despite having a contract at Anfield until the summer of 2021.

Lovren, 31, is expected to leave Liverpool this summer and has been strongly linked with a move to Italy of late. But it emerged on Sunday evening that Zenit were interested in landing the Croatian World Cup finalist.

The former Southampton defender joined Liverpool back in 2014 and has since clocked up 185 appearances in all competitions for the Reds. This season, he has played just 15 times – after slipping to fourth choice.

Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip are all ahead of Lovren in the pecking order. All signs, then, are pointing towards a Lovren exit and the latest report says the former Lyon ace will leave Liverpool on a free and join Zenit.

TBR’s view – Lovren should be moved on for good of his career

Indeed, if Zenit cannot afford to meet his asking price, then Lovren has deserved the chance to be released by Liverpool for his service to the club over the past six years. He’s remained loyal, despite a lack of game time at times.

If that means he has to have his contract cancelled to join Zenit, so be it. The Reds are likely to add another defender to their ranks this summer and getting rid of Lovren to make room is a no-brainer.