AC Milan are ready to offer Dejan Lovren a four-year deal worth £10.8million in order to lure the Liverpool centre-back to the San Siro this summer, according to Nicolo Schira.
The Gazzetta Dello Sport journalist claimed via his personal Twitter account on Tuesday that Liverpool want “at least” £18million for the 30-year-old before they consider cashing in on him as Milan have made him their top defensive target before the start of next season.
Il #Milan fa sul serio per Dejan #Lovren: il croato è la prima scelta per la difesa. C’è lo scoglio ingaggio (guadagna 5 milioni netti a stagione fino al 2021): rossoneri provano a spalmare con proposta quadriennale da 3 milioni. Il #Liverpool vuole almeno €20M per cederlo. #LFC
— Nicolò Schira (@NicoSchira) July 16, 2019
It is understood that Lovren currently earns £4.5million-a-year on his agreement that expires in two years’ time.
However Milan are reportedly trying to sign the Croatia international by offering him a four-year contract worth £2.7million-a-season.
OPINION
It would be a shock for Lovren to quit Liverpool and head to AC Milan this summer if he was going to take a pay cut while doing so. The Croatian international made just 18 appearances across all competitions for the Reds last season as they finished second in the Premier League and won the Champions League title, so it would be fair to assume that moving to Milan would see him earn more game-time. However Milan will surely have to come up with a more tempting offer than the one they’re currently proposing to Lovren. According to Schira, if Lovren accepted this, his earnings would be almost slashed in half. Why would he accept that? Liverpool’s price-tag on Lovren is quite big for someone who is a fringe player but the fact that he has two years remaining on his contract bumps that valuation up. Lovren seems like he might be staying put on Merseyside based on this latest update.