Barcelona Linked with Liverpool Target Lovern

With everything quiet on the Alberto Moreno front, the focus — in the media anyway — has moved from one defender to another with supposed Liverpool target Dejan Lovern trying to force through a move away from St. Mary’s. Though his likely destination, if you would have put money on it earlier in the month, looks to be Liverpool, reports in the Spanish media today suggests that Barcelona may also be an option for the talented Croatian defender.

This, of course, could re-ignite the Spanish giants interest in out of favour Reds defender Daniel Agger should the Anfield outfit snap up his signature first. Come hither whispers from the Camp Nou aren’t entirely a new thing for Lovern with links to both the Catalan club and Atletico Madrid doing the rounds last summer before he finally moved to Southampton, but with the desire to play in Europe’s most prestigious club competition too tempting to pass up, a move away is likely on the cards.

Despite Southampton’s decent showing in the league last season, recent Reds transplant Rickie Lambert appears to be leading the exodus from the South Coast club with captain Adam Lallana also on course to make the move to Merseyside in the coming weeks. The prospect of playing Champions League football remains as big a draw as ever and was the main reason Lovern cited in an email sent to Saint’s executive director Les Reed and chairman Ralph Krueger on at the end of May as to why he’d like to leave. Now, where he’ll end up and what that may trigger on Liverpool’s end is cause for debate.

Barcelona have made no secret of their interest in Agger and they could be tempted to come back for the experienced Dane should they miss out Lovern. With defensive mainstay Carles Puyol calling time on his career at the end of the last season, new Barca boss Luís Enrique may see Agger as a suitable replacement. The resurgence of Martin Skrtel and the capture of promising center half Mamadou Sakho last summer saw the Reds vice-captain play a peripheral role at Anfield last season and, much like Lovern, he looks likely to move on this summer — and what better place to move to than sunny Spain?