Liverpool hopeful Dejan Lovren will extend stay at Anfield

Liverpool are hopeful of Dejan Lovren committing his long-term future to Anfield after reopening contract talks with the Croatian defender.

Lovren had been in line to follow Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana in signing extended new deals with Liverpool but, unlike the Brazil and England internationals, negotiations with his representatives did not run smoothly and hit an impasse earlier in the year.

That may be overcome soon, however, with Liverpool officials re-entering talks over a new contract for the 27-year-old.

Lovren remains under contract until 2019, having signed a five-year deal on his arrival from Southampton in 2014 but, having recovered from a difficult start to his Liverpool career to establish himself under the manager, Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool want to secure the central defender on extended terms.