Former Liverpool star John Barnes thinks it’d be a good idea if Dejan Lovren left Anfield this summer as rumours of AC Milan continue to circulate.
The retired winger is convinced the Croat will become a fringe player next season, with Joe Gomez and Joel Matip seemingly being preferred to support Virgil van Dijk.
“With Joe Gomez coming back, if Lovren feels that he’s not going to be playing any more and he wants to play first-team football, fine,” Barnes said told the Express.
“I quite like him at Liverpool because of course, if players get injured, he can step in and do a good job. But players sometimes think to themselves that they want to play first-team football.
“So therefore if he leaves, I’ll have every respect for him, rather than him just staying at Liverpool in the comfort zone. Maybe it is time for him to move on if that’s what he decides.”
The Reds will not consider selling Dejan Lovren for a bid less than £25million, respected Times journalist Paul Joyce has claimed.
This is in reaction to Italian reports that Milan are keen on our number six, and while Joyce says this has yet to be confirmed, he does admit that ‘prospective new sporting director Ricky Massara rates Lovren highly’.
Would take bids of at least £25m for Liverpool to even consider letting Dejan Lovren leave. No contact from AC Milan, but their prospective new sporting director Ricky Massara rates Lovren highly. @TimesSport
— paul joyce (@_pauljoyce) June 12, 2019
That being said, Jurgen Klopp is unlikely to want to sell the experienced defender, but if the right offer comes in then I expect the boss to cut his losses and move him on.
With van Dijk, Gomez and Matip all ahead of him in the pecking order, the manager may view it as an opportunity to generate some wealth and promote a youngster.