Liverpool have taken their summer spending over €100 million – and could go beyond €125 million in the coming days – after agreeing a €25 million fee with Southampton for Dejan Lovren.
The Croatia international has been a priority for Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers all summer as he seeks to remedy defensive shortcomings and a deal has finally been agreed for the centre half to become the third player to transfer from St Mary's Stadium to Anfield since the end of last season. Lovren is expected to undergo a medical on Merseyside on Saturday.
Southampton had rejected a previous offer of €20 million, but with Lovren informing manager Ronald Koeman he wished to leave for Liverpool, and the Dutch man reluctant to keep unhappy players at his club, the improved offer has enabled Rodgers to make his fifth summer signing. Lovren will be Liverpool's first defensive recruit with a left back, potentially Chelsea's Ryan Bertrand or Sevilla's Alberto Moreno, also required.
Liverpool’s lavish outlay is not purely from the proceeds of Luis Suarez’s
€95 million sale to Barcelona and the Premier League runners-up are close to adding €10 million Loic Remy and fellow striker Divock Origi, a €12 million signing from Lille, to their ranks.
France international Remy, who spent last season on loan at Newcastle United, underwent a medical earlier this week in Boston where Liverpool had been in pre-season training. Belgium international Origi had his medical in the United States yesterday and both deals are now subject to administration details.
Liverpool took advantage of a release clause in Remy's contract with Queens Park Rangers following the departure of Suarez to Spain. The 27-year-old scored 14 goals for Newcastle last season, before his and the team's form nose-dived after the sale of Yohan Cabaye, and 27 goals in 68 appearances for Marseille before joining QPR in 2013.
Liverpool have already signed Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana from Southampton, Emre Can from Bayer Leverkusen and Benfica's Lazar Markovic ahead of next season's return to the Champions League.
They could also be joined at Anfield by defender Javier Manquillo on loan from Atletico Madrid.
Meanwhile, Liverpool chose the right time to part ways with the controversial Suarez and will have no trouble coping without the Uruguayan, said the club’s principal owner John Henry.
"It was time for Luis and time for the club to make a break," Henry was quoted as saying by the Liverpool Echo. "He brought so much to the club but we brought a lot to Luis. I think you will still see a very explosive Liverpool offence this season." Guardian Service
