Transfer Centre

Dejan Lovren admits he wanted to leave Liverpool

By Étienne Fermie | 04 September 2019

Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren has admitted that he was keen to leave Anfield last month in a bid to play first-team football again.

Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren has admitted that he wanted to leave the Reds last month.

The 30-year-old has fallen behind the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez in the pecking order and has yet to feature this season.

Speaking to Croatian newspaper Sportske Novosti, Lovren said: "Yes, I did consider moving. I knew I gave my best for Liverpool, won the Champions League and I am not the kind of player that likes to be benched and earn money.

"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 needs me and I accepted that."

The former Southampton man was an unused substitute as Liverpool won their sixth Champions League back in June but had been strongly linked with a move to Roma, who then went on to sign Chris Smalling instead.