The Croatia international has declared that his “head is already at” Anfield, with the Reds hopeful of signing him, but he has now met up with Ronald Koeman’s squad in Belgium

Dejan Lovren has travelled with Southampton to Belgium for their pre-season tour despite his assertion that he wants to join Liverpool.

The Croatia defender has declared that “my head is already at Liverpool”, comments that did not please the Saints’ new manager, Ronald Koeman, but the former Feyenoord boss noted on Friday that the 25-year-old is a key player and that he was expecting him to join the squad for the trip even if he could yet leave.

Goal understands that the Reds are close to agreeing a deal to sign the centre-back but Koeman asserted his authority to bring Lovren to Belgium all the same.

“That [public comment about Liverpool] was not a good thing on his side,” the Saints manager told reporters on Friday.

“I spoke two times to Dejan. He was very clear about his situation. I said: ‘Okay, I am the new manager, I want to keep all the players’.

“I would like to keep Dejan in the team because he is an important player in an important position in the team. He has to come back on Sunday.”

And that he did, with Southampton posting a photo of him travelling to Belgium on the club’s official Twitter account on Sunday.

Southampton have already sold England trio Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert since the season ended but Koeman has brought in winger Dusan Tadic and forward Graziano Pelle from Twente and Feyenoord, respectively.