Lovren “did consider leaving” Liverpool – he deserves credit for his attitude

Dejan Lovren deserves credit for wanting a new challenge this summer, even though he has ended up staying at Liverpool.

The 30-year-old was linked with a Reds exit throughout the transfer window, with Roma particularly keen to sign him, but Jurgen Klopp had other ideas.

Speaking to Sportske Novosti, via Goal’s Neil Jones on Twitter, Lovren has admitted he considered leaving, but the club’s support has helped him:

Yes, I did consider moving, I knew I gave my best for Liverpool and 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 in big club, shut up 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.

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Lovren will always be divisive at Liverpool, with some rating him highly and others wishing he had been sold this summer.

His attitude is commendable, though, with many other players seemingly willing to sit on the substitutes’ bench and not show a hunger for regular first-team football.

Lovren has made it clear that he wants to play and he will now fight for his place at Liverpool.

There is no doubting that he is currently fourth choice in the centre-back pecking order, but chances will still come his way.

For someone like Klopp to value Lovren so highly says a lot about the Croatian’s personality.