Liverpool 'put £25m price tag on Dejan Lovren'

However, Press Association Sport understands Liverpool are in no rush to usher Lovren, 30 next month, out of the door and it would take an offer of at least £25million to persuade them to change that stance.

The Croatian found himself fourth-choice centre-back by the time the Reds won the Champions League in Madrid earlier this month having begun his campaign – delayed until September by injury after the World Cup – as the preferred partner for Virgil Van Dijk.

But niggling injuries plus the improved form of Joel Matip after the turn of the year meant even the loss of Joe Gomez to a broken leg for three months did not offer a way back into the side for the Croatian.

Lovren, signed from Southampton five years ago for £20million, made just 18 appearances, 14 of which were starts, last season. That is the lowest number of all the centre-backs available to manager Jurgen Klopp.

Van Dijk led the way with 50 games, followed by Matip (31) and Gomez (25).

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