Lovren: What Klopp told me when I asked to leave

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Dejan Lovren has admitted he wanted to depart Liverpool during the transfer window, but will not kick up a fuss that it didn’t happen.

In what we consider exceptionally professional quotes, the Croatian defender, now our fourth-choice centre-back, has explained what Jurgen Klopp told him and why Liverpool refused to send him out on loan.

“I feel relief the transfer window is closed. I got tired of reading and listening every day about me leaving or staying in Liverpool,” Lovren told Sportske Novosti.

“Everyone wrote ‘Dejan is here, Dejan is there’, and knew nothing! It annoyed me.

“Yes, I did consider moving. I knew I gave my best for Liverpool, won the Champions League, and I am not kind of player that likes to be benched and earn money.

“Some people around me advised me ‘what do you care? You are at a big club, shut up and take the money’. But I am not happy on the bench.

“I feel very happy because all the time I felt Liverpool was by me, I respect that a lot.

“Klopp told me ‘listen, buddy, you are top-class player, we will not let you go on loan. We need you’.

“I wanted to leave, it didn’t happen, I was told Liverpool need me and I accepted that.”

While Joel Matip is performing at such an extraordinarily high level, Lovren’s only chance of first-team minutes is in the EFL Cup.

Joe Gomez is ahead of Lovren in the pecking order as well, so it’s quite understandable that a defender who’s played in a World Cup Final who at aged 30 is theoretically in his prime, wants minutes elsewhere.

Still, we never know what will happen with injuries, and with Liverpool competing in the Club World Championships before the year is over, we need strength in depth.

We’re grateful Lovren is sticking around – and reckon he’ll do a good job when called upon. Next summer he can likely leave permanently and the likes of Sepp van den Berg and Ki-Jana Hoever may be ready to step up.

 

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