Liverpool transfers: Ronald Koeman rules out Dejan Lovren exit

Liverpool have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Southampton defender Dejan Lovren after Ronald Koeman ruled out any more players leaving St Mary’s this summer.

The Saints have already sold Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert for a combined fee of £29m, whilst Manchester United snapped up highly-rated left-back Luke Shaw in a £27m deal.

We sold three players – that’s good enough money. Now we will keep the rest and we will continue with what we did last season

Ronald Koeman

Southampton rejected a £20m bid for Lovren from the Reds earlier this month and the Croatian subsequently attempted to force the move through by declaring his “head was already at Liverpool”.

But Koeman, who was appointed as Mauricio Pochettino’s successor at St Mary’s last month, doesn’t expect any further sales in the summer transfer window.

“We said: ‘Okay, this is it – we are not a selling club.’ The players have contracts. We don’t sell any more players and we will try keep to that,” Koeman said.

“We sold three players – that’s good enough money. Now we will keep the rest and we will continue with what we did last season.

“I know Liverpool have a lot of money and they will spend that money and maybe they want to buy a player from Southampton.

“But as manager of Southampton I have to do everything to keep those players. The final decision is with the board.”