Premier League leaders Liverpool are willing to let go of defender Dejan Lovren, and Arsenal are reportedly one of the clubs interested.
Lovren, who signed for the Reds from Southampton in 2014, has found game time limited under Jürgen Klopp this season.
As per Daily Mail, the Gunners, as well as arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur, are interested in signing Lovren. Crystal Palace and West Ham United are the other Premier League clubs keeping an eye on Lovren’s situation, so we could be in for a transfer tug of war when the transfer window reopens.
Lovren’s current deal with Liverpool expires in 2021, and the Reds want to sell him rather than let him leave on a free transfer.
The 30-year-old central defender has made 184 appearances in six seasons for Liverpool, but he has featured just 14 times for the club before the season was halted due to the COVID19 outbreak.
Lovren is currently behind Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, and Joe Gomez in the Liverpool pecking order.
Dejan Lovren – A good option for Arteta?
Arsenal have had a serious issue at the back, as injuries, inconsistency, and defensive errors have led to an overall poor defensive record.
The defending has improved under manager Mikel Arteta, but the Gunners need to sign new central defenders in the summer transfer window. The likes of David Luiz, Sokratis and Shkodran Mustafi have been poor this season, and have not inspired confidence.
The Gunners lack a leader at the back, a defender who can take charge of situations, command the players around him, and organise the defence.
Lovren was that type of player when he was signed by Liverpool from Southampton six years ago, but the Croatian has not shown that ability lately. The Croatian – like the Arsenal defence – has made errors and is not a player that a porous Arsenal defence should depend upon.
He is no longer the player he was, and isn’t getting younger either as he is 30 already. Arteta should turn his attention towards younger defenders who have Premier League experience, and will be willing to put their bodies on the line, as well as be leaders at the back.
Lovren isn’t the best at playing the ball out from the back either, so he won’t necessarily improve Arsenal’s ability keep hold of possession comfortably or possibly move it forward from the back, something Arteta wants from his defenders.
The likes of Caglar Soyuncu, Conor Coady, or Nathan Ake are the kind of players Arteta should target in the next transfer window, instead of Lovren.