Lovren: 'I don't deserve to go anywhere on loan'

Cape Town - Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren has admitted he considered leaving in the off-season but ended up staying because he was not interested in a loan move.

The Croatian defender has been linked with moves to Bayer Leverkusen, AC Milan and Roma over the summer transfer window with reports saying that Liverpool were looking for £15 million.

And now Lovren has lifted the lid on what actually went on over the summer and admits he became "annoyed" with all the speculation.

He told Sportske Novosti: "Yes, I did consider the move, 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.

"Yes, some people around me advised me 'what do you care, you are in a big club, shut up and take the money', but I am not happy sitting on the bench.

"Milan contacted me but Roma was most persistent, but the negotiations didn't go well. I don't want to go somewhere and prove someone who I am and how do I play and am I ready or not.

"I am a professional, I have won the Champions League, won a World Cup silver medal, I achieved big things in football and don't deserve to go anywhere on loan and to have someone checking me and my quality.

"I feel very happy because all the time I felt Liverpool was by me, and 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'.

"Yes, when he told me that, it was unclear to me because I know currently I am in the worst position of all centre-backs in the team. But there will be a lot of matches, some injuries are possible too... I wanted to leave, it didn't happen, I was told Liverpool needs me and I accepted that. It was not meant to be for me to leave.

"Last week I spoke to Klopp again, he told me he understands me, knows I am not happy, but he also said: 'Look, now it is finished, I want you to reset your head, I find you important'.

"I feel I am in my prime age, in great shape, mentally ready and you can not buy experience. Not many players have played in the World Cup final and Champions League final as me.

"That is why Liverpool wouldn't let me go on loan. You have to pay to get quality and not go somewhere and prove something to someone.

Lovren added: "I feel relief after transfer window is closed. I got tired of reading and listening every day about me leaving or staying in Liverpool.

"Everyone wrote 'Dejan is here, Dejan is there', and knew nothing! It annoyed me, I got a headache because of it throughout the summer."

- TeamTalk Media