Liverpool have been linked with a replacement for Dejan Lovren, but that name has split fans, who aren’t sure if he’d be an upgrade.
Dejan Lovren has been a bit of a maligned figure at Liverpool almost since he arrived from Southampton in 2014.
Despite that, the Croatian international has played 184 times for the Reds and 161 in the Premier League. He’s an experienced operator, and although he has his off days, he’s still a strong squad player who has something to offer.
Just take a look at how the 30-year-old pushed Joe Gomez down the pecking order this season, before he picked up an unfortunately timed injury.
It’s become fashionable to criticise the Croatian, but that hasn’t always reflected his performances on the pitch.
Which is why replacing him as a squad player is going to be tricky. Liverpool shouldn’t just sell him for the sake of it, they should only get rid of Lovren if there is a better player ready to step up and improve the level of the squad.
But with Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Gomez already in the squad, finding a fourth senior player will be tricky. They’ll normally have some ambition over playing time, and if they don’t I’m not sure that’s the type of player that Jurgen Klopp wants around the place.
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In many ways that’s why Degsy has been perfect for Liverpool over the past few campaigns.
Turkish sources have said Michael Edwards is going to come back in for Besiktas defender Domagoj Vida as the man to take Lovren’s place in the side.
The 31-year-old impressed during the 2018 World Cup and joined his current club in the January of that year. With just two more years left on his current contract, Besiktas might find it hard to turn down decent money for Vida.
With 88 appearances under his belt, the Croatian has become an important part of the side. But some fans are worried we’d be swapping one Lovren for another.
Why would Liverpool be interested in Domagoj Vida anyway? A man who has played just one game in a top five European league in his life. Taking a punt on the central defender would be a risk Edwards and the team don’t often take.
If this was a 25-year-old things would be different. But as things stand it’s another transfer rumour linking an ageing footballer with Liverpool and that’s not a situation we want to be in.