[ad_pod ]This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…According to Football Insider, Liverpool centre-back Dejan Lovren looks set to stay at the club with potential suitors Roma only being interested in a loan move, and that could prove to be a blessing in disguise for the Reds.
What’s the word, then?
Well, the Croatia international has been linked with a move to the Serie A side in recent days, with Times journalist Paul Joyce saying on Tuesday that talks were underway over a potential transfer that needed to be worth £15m.
The 30-year-old subsequently missed out on a place in the Merseyside outfit’s 23-man squad to face Chelsea in the Super Cup through illness – although Liverpool supporters weren’t buying that reason given the earlier exit rumours.
However, Football Insider say that Roma want to bring the defender to the Italian capital on loan with an option to buy, but the Champions League holders are only willing to sanction a permanent exit.
Blessing in disguise
While Lovren appears to be fourth-choice centre-back under Jurgen Klopp with Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip ahead of him – those three made the matchday squad against Norwich City last Friday while he missed out – Liverpool have already seen the injuries strike early in the campaign.
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They have lost goalkeeper Alisson “for the next few weeks” according to the German manager, while midfielder Naby Keita has also suffered a muscle strain that ruled him out against the Blues on Wednesday.
That has to be a warning that injuries can happen, and were the Reds lose one of Gomez, van Dijk or Matip on top of Lovren leaving, they would be in a situation where they potentially had to call upon youngsters like Sepp van den Berg.
Keeping four senior centre-backs until January at the very least is imperative as the Merseyside outfit look to fight on a number of fronts and try to go one better in the Premier League, and Lovren has the experience to help them when he is called upon.
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