Dejan Lovren demand revealed in failed Roma transfer

Dejan Lovren Liverpool

AS Roma’s proposed loan move for Dejan Lovren involved a signing on fee, according to a report in Italy.

AC Milan were initially linked with the former Southampton man, but it seemed as though Roma had won the battle to sign him with Times journalist Paul Joyce reporting that the capital city side were “in talks” with Liverpool and that a deal is possible for around £15million in mid-August.

However, a deal was never agreed and TuttoMercatoWeb report that the Liverpool defender demanded a €1m signing on fee from the Serie A side.

Roma since went on to sign Chris Smalling on loan for the remainder of the season from Manchester United with Lovren left kicking his heels at Anfield.

Lovren has still not featured for the Reds this season and he is clearly the fourth choice centre-back behind Virgil Van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez.

Klopp though is understood not to want the Croatian to leave, although publicly he has refused to comment on the transfer.

“No comment on Lovren,” said the German last week.  “A potential transfer or not, I don’t want to talk about it.”

And on Friday he once again refused to talk about the player’s situation.

Bayer Leverkusen were also believed to be keen on the 30-year-old with Croatian newspaper 24Sata via Sport Witness explaining that Lovren has been at the exit door “all summer”, but is yet to find a club.

The Daily Mirror have reported that: “Dejan Lovren is staying at Liverpool after Jurgen Klopp blocked the defender’s departure on loan.”

The Reds were set to entertain a permanent transfer but were not content to let the defender leave on a temporary basis.