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Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is lining-up a summer swoop for Southampton defensive rock Dejan Lovren.

Croatian international Lovren, 24, has made 25 appearances for the Saints this season and scored the winner against Brendan Rodgers' title-chasers at Anfield in September.

The centre-back was heavily linked with the Reds before arriving at St Mary's in a £8.5million deal from French side Lyon in June.

Liverpool are widely expected to focus on strengthening their defence - the most generous among the title chasers with 39 goals conceded ahead of Sunday's meeting with Spurs - in the summer.