“Liverpool miss me more than I miss them” - Dejan Lovren makes emphatic claim when asked about ‘regret’ over Anfield exit
Dejan Lovren has revealed that he does not regret leaving Liverpool. The Croatian defender insists that the Merseysiders are reeling from his absence more than he misses them.
The Reds signed Lovren in 2014 from Southampton for a reported £20 million fee, which was the club's record signing for a defender at the time. The Croatia international became a key player for both Brendan Rogers and Jurgen Klopp.
However, after Virgil van Dijk's arrival in January 2018, Lovren's role at the club gradually began to diminish. He then fell further down the pecking order behind Joel Matip and Joe Gomez as Klopp's fourth-choice center-back.
Lovren left Liverpool in 2020 in favor of a move to Russian side Zenit Saint Petersburg. In an interview with Sport Express, the Croatian has now opened up about his Anfield departure and his relationship with Jurgen Klopp.
Lovren said (via The Mirror):
"No, I don't regret [leaving]. My decision in the summer was firm - to leave Liverpool, and I do not look back. I got upset last season when I didn't play, but now everything is different."
He added:
"I think Liverpool miss me more than I miss them and Jurgen Klopp knows this, because we communicate. He wrote recently: 'We miss you.' I spoke with Jurgen [after I left], but I will not disclose details. Jurgen said only good things and wished him luck."
Lovren registered 185 appearances during his time at Anfield, winning the Premier League, the Champions League, and the UEFA Supercup.
"He's got so much about him" - Pundit urges Liverpool to sign Premier League star if Mohamed Salah leaves
Tony Cascarino has named the perfect candidate to replace Mohamed Salah if he leaves Liverpool next summer. The pundit believes the Merseysiders should pursue Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo.
Salah's contract with the Merseysiders is set to expire next summer and concrete talks over an extension are yet to take place. The Egyptian forward has attracted a lot of interest from the Middle East as well.
Amid uncertainty over his future at Anfield, former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino has advised the Reds to sign Mbeumo as Salah's replacement. The Brentford forward is off to a great start this season, scoring three goals in four games so far.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Cascarino said:
“I remember saying to you about if Mo Salah left, Mbeumo would be the one I would have gone after. He's got so much about him, he’s got goals, he’s got durability. He's just a nuisance every time he plays.”