‘He’d walk into any team’: Whelan reacts as Liverpool star is set to agree terms with new club

Former Leeds United and Coventry City striker Noel Whelan has reacted to the news of another potential departure at Liverpool as Jurgen Klopp reshapes his Champions League-winning squad.

Alberto Moreno and Daniel Sturridge have already been allowed to say goodbye to Anfield, and it looks as though next in line will be Dejan Lovren.

The defender, who joined the Reds from Southampton, has endured a roller-coaster career at Liverpool, putting in great performances on certain occasions and receiving criticism for his displays at other times.

Lovren did play in the 2018 Champions League final which witnessed Liverpool suffer a 3-1 defeat in Kyiv, against a Real Madrid side, who won their third consecutive European title.

The 29-year-old is reported to be set to agree terms over a move to AC Milan (as per Football Insider), and it appears as though his days at Anfield are numbered.

Former footballer Noel Whelan has expressed his views on the potential move for Lovren and heaped praise on the defender.

“I’m not surprised Milan want him, he’d walk into any team you care to mention,” Whelan told Football Insider. “When fully fit, Lovren is a superb centre-back who is aggressive, dominant and difficult to play against.

“He’s actually got better the longer he has been at Liverpool, and I’m sure Klopp will not want to lose a defender like him who can step in and be so comfortable at the top level.

“Liverpool now have an embarrassment of riches at centre-back, and it’s hard to keep them all happy, especially as Virgil van Dijk never seems to get injured.

“With Matip and Gomez on the books, how much would Lovren play next season? He’d have to wait for his chance, and, at this stage of his career, you couldn’t blame him for agreeing a long-term contract with a top side where he would play regularly.”