Liverpool renew efforts to sign Southampton defender Dejan Lovren

Premier League leaders Liverpool, who are 7/4 to take the title with Coral, are set to revive their interest in Southampton and Croatia defender Dejan Lovren, as Reds boss Brendan Rodgers seeks to shore up his defence.

The Anfield outfit kept a home clean sheet against Spurs, but that is the only shut-out the Kop has witnessed since they beat Merseyside neighbours Everton in January. In the interim, Liverpool won to nil away at both St Mary’s and, on the turf of bitter rivals Manchester United, Old Trafford.

Despite being in the Saints XI that lost to them on March 1st, conceding three goals, former Lyon centre back Lovren remains a player that Rodgers is hugely keen on – not least because he scored a winner against them in September.

A recent revelation that Southampton made a net loss of £7.1m for their first season back in the Premier League (2012/13), and will enter the summer transfer window still owing £27m in transfer fees, will only encourage Rodgers’ interest.

Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino spent a reported £8.5m to bring Lovren in last summer, and he has helped the south coast side to nine of the dozen clean sheets they have kept in the top-flight this term.

Beating the Reds to his signature then is no guarantee that he will remain at St Mary’s, however.

Liverpool’s continued interest in Lovren raises doubt over the future of veteran defender Kolo Toure. The Ivory Coast international, 33, only joined the Reds last summer on a two-year deal, but their other centre back options are under contract for longer.

The talented young team assembled by Argentine coach Pochettino is attracting suitors for its star performers. Lovren is certainly one of those, alongside Southampton skipper Adam Lallana.

England trio Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Jay Rodriguez all made major contributions as the Saints handsomely hammered Newcastle United 4-0 in their last outing. All their prices of making Roy Hodgson’s World Cup roster have shortened, at 1/4, 7/4 and evens respectively.

Lovren, who has 23 caps for his country, will also be in Brazil – his first major tournament as he missed Euro 2012 through injury. Niko Kovac’s team have been drawn with World Cup hosts and 3/1 favourites Brazil, Cameroon and Mexico.

Odds of 7/1 say Croatia will win Group A, and they are an 11/10 price to make the knockout phase. Lovren should have a big role to play at the finals, especially as veteran centre back Josip Simunic misses the tournament because of a 10-match ban for making a fascist salute during qualification.

Croatia are 125/1 shots to go all the way in Brazil, but back them instead to be knocked out in the last 16 at 2/1.