Report: Zenit preparing £9 million offer for Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren

Add as preferred source on Google

Liverpool are reportedly bracing for a first offer from Zenit St Petersburg.

According to a report from the Daily Mail, the Russian club are willing to offer around £9 million for the Croatia international.

Lovren’s future is in doubt having been on the fringes for months at Anfield.

He’s chalked up 185 appearances for the Reds, but Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip are all ahead of him in the pecking order.

The 31-year-old has a year remaining in his contract, but there has been talk of Liverpool triggering a one-year extension if they can’t sell in the next transfer window.

Zenit are understood to want Lovren to replace former Chelsea star Branislav Ivanovic, who is now 36.

TBR’s View – It’s time to sell

It is probably in Liverpool’s best interests to sell Lovren in the next transfer window.

He’s been a good servant to the club overall, but the club should be cashing in before his value really begins to decrease.

Perhaps sporting director Michael Edwards – known for being a shrewd seller of fringe players at Anfield – will be able to squeeze a bit more out of Zenit.

Getting over £10 million would probably be considered by many as a successful deal, given he cost £20 million six years ago (BBC Sport).

The report does add that the Reds are likely to demand around £15 million for the player, which would be some business.