Zenit St Petersburg manager Sergej Semak insists Dejan Lovren has not asked to leave amid a reported return to the Premier League with West Ham United, speaking to Championat.
After FIFA announced a couple of weeks ago that players based in Russia and Ukraine would be allowed to terminate their contracts and join new clubs in free transfers, something of an exodus has taken place in the Far East.
But will Lovren follow in the footsteps of Tete, Junior Alonso, Grzegorz Krychowiak and co?
Tuttomercatoweb claim that the 32-year-old Croatia international has been offered a deal at the London Stadium until the summer of 2024.
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David Moyes is a long-time admirer of Lovren, having tried to sign the one-time Southampton stopper during his ill-fated spell in the Manchester United dugout.
But, after Zenit CEO Alexander Medvedev dismissed speculation suggesting that Lovren could depart the Russian Premier League leaders with a year remaining on his current deal, Semak also expressed his confidence regarding the defender’s future at the Gazprom Arena.
Is Dejan Lovren returning to the Premier League?
“A lot of things are said but I have never heard from him about the desire to move to another club or to suspend his contract,” says Semak, one of the most highly-rated young managers in Eastern Europe.
“Today, (Lovren) is a football player of our team. And nothing has changed in his plans.”
It is no secret that Moyes wants defensive reinforcements at West Ham. He admitted as much in January.
Furthermore, Issa Diop could leave the Hammers with even fewer options at the back. The former Toulouse captain is emerging as a summer target for Lyon.
Angelo Ogbonna, meanwhile, is still on the sidelines after suffering a cruciate ligament injury during the dramatic 3-2 victory over Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in the autumn. Ogbonna will turn 34 in March.
In addition to Lovren, West Ham are also eyeing the likes of Sven Botman, Duje Caleta-Car and John Egan. Niklas Stark is available for free with Hertha Berlin opting not to hand their long-serving vice-captain a contract extension.
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