Quartet of London based clubs keen on Liverpool star Dejan Lovren

Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren could be set to bring a close to his stay on Merseyside. The Croatian international is one of the Reds’ longest-serving players, having joined the club in 2014. He has since gone on to make 184 appearances for the Merseysiders and has scored eight goals and five assists.

He has fallen behind the pecking order and is arguable the fourth choice defender at the club. The likes of Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip are all ahead of the 30-year-old.

A change of scenery could be in order after six seasons at Liverpool. According to the Daily Mirror, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will not stand in his way if Lovren wishes to leave.

The World Cup finalist will not be short of suitors, with a host of London clubs keen on securing his signature. Apart from Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palance and West Ham United are also keen on Lovren.

The player will soon enter the final year of his contract and the Reds stand to gain financially if a deal can be reached this summer. According to the report

The right replacement required

If Lovren is sold, Liverpool will need to sign a centre-back to fill up the Croatian’s spot. It remains to be seen if Klopp will go for a replacement or look for temporary solutions such as Fabinho or Jordan Henderson, both of who have played there before.

Fabinho has looked far more comfortable than Henderson as a makeshift centre-half with the skipper struggling in that position in the FIFA Club World Cup. The Reds will be better off signing a player who is a specialist, even if it is a short-term solution.

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Lovren has struck up a good rapport with Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah. They are good friends off the pitch and have posted a number of hilarious videos together. The Croatian will always be remembered for his late winner against Borussia Dortmund in 2016.