Liverpool have once again plundered Southampton with the news they have signed center back Dejan Lovren for a reported £20 million. Lovren is their third signing from the Saints this summer following striker Rickie Lambert and midfielder Adam Lallana move to Anfield.
Signing a top quality center back has been Brendan Rodgers top priority this summer after Liverpool conceded 50 goals in the Premier League last season, something that probably cost them the title.
Lovren, who played in all three of Croatia’s matches at the recent World Cup in Brazil, has the leadership qualities to make Liverpool more solid at the back. The arrival of Lovren will mean the end of Kolo Toure’s brief time at Anfield and Liverpool have told him he can leave for nothing, just one year after arriving, if he finds a new club.
I really like what Rodgers and Liverpool have done this summer. Unlike Spurs a year ago who wasted the Gareth Bale on a group of players with no Premier League experience, Liverpool have gone with Premier League experience. The Southampton trio as all as former QPR striker Loic Remy have all shown that they can contribute in the Premier League. That eases the pressure on the other signings like Germany under-21 midfielder Emre Can from Bayer Leverkusen, Serbian winger Lazar Markovic from Benfica and midfielder Divock Origi from Lille who can take their time to settle in, knowing that some of the summer signings will be able to contribute immediately.
