Liverpool have opened discussions with Roma over the potential sale of centre-half Dejan Lovren.
Lovren has been omitted from Jurgen Klopp’s squad to play Chelsea in the Super Cup on Wednesday night due to an “illness”, though talks over a departure continue.
The 30-year-old has fallen behind Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip in the defensive pecking order, leaving him as the fourth-choice centre-back at Anfield.
Liverpool are understood to be demanding around £15m for Lovren, who was not named in the match day squad for Friday’s Premier League opener against Norwich City.
Lovren made just 18 appearances for Liverpool last season, though persistent injuries left him unavailable for much of the campaign.
The Croatia international has two years remaining on his current Liverpool contract, having signed an extension in April 2017.
Lovren’s exit would leave Liverpool light in the centre of defence unless youngsters Ki-Jana Hoever and Sepp van den Berg are trusted to provide first-team cover.
Roma have a long-standing interest in Lovren and hope to conclude a deal before Serie A’s transfer window closes next Friday.
Paulo Fonseca, the Roma head coach, is looking to add an established centre-half to his squad to compete alongside Juan Jesus and Federico Fazio.
