Dejan Lovren could still leave Liverpool this summer despite the breakdown of his expected move to AS Roma, with Bayer Leverkusen emerging as a late suitor.
The transfer window remains open for the majority of European clubs until midnight of September 2, and this combined with the Football League loan window could see further departures from Merseyside.
Beyond the likes of Herbie Kane and Ryan Kent, Lovren is the one first-team player whose future remains up in the air.
The Croatian is back in training at Melwood this week following a conveniently timed illness, which coincided with talks between Liverpool and Roma.
The Reds halted negotiations with the Serie A outfit after their failure to make a formal offer, despite indications that they would be willing to pay £15 million for the 30-year-old.
Jurgen Klopp has so far alternated between Joel Matip and Joe Gomez as Virgil van Dijk‘s centre-back partner, and with Lovren far down the pecking order it could be that he still heads for the exit.
According to Sport Bild, Leverkusen are considering a move for Lovren as they seek an experienced addition to their defensive ranks.
However, the deal mooted is a season-long loan including a €3 million (£2.75m) fee up front, which may not appease the Reds given they do not need to part ways with their No. 6.
But their willingness to sell Lovren does suggest they could be open to arranging a switch, particularly if they were to agree to an obligation to buy at the end of the campaign.
Leverkusen are also interested in Freiburg’s Dominique Heintz, which could complicate matters if Liverpool were to hold firm on their valuation.
Lovren was on the substitutes’ bench for the Community Shield defeat to Man City, but has been absent for each of the Reds’ three competitive games this season so far.
And given the options at Klopp’s disposal, with one of Gomez or Matip and likely James Milner making the bench as cover at the back, he could also miss out on the squad for Saturday’s clash with Arsenal.
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