Dejan Lovren persuaded Aston Villa to sign goalkeeper and Lovre Kalinic with a glowing reference of his Croatia international teammate, according to Football Insider.
The reliable site claim Villa assistant manager John Terry “sought recommendations” from Liverpool defender Lovren and ex-West Ham boss Slaven Bilic before the club decided to sign Kalinic in a deal confirmed today (Friday).
Football Insider report Terry played an “active role” in finalising a deal worth £14million in transfer fee and wages by getting the inside track from Kalinic’s countrymen Lovren and Bilic.
OPINION
It is fascinating insight from Football Insider that Terry helped grease the wheels of the deal for the 28-year-old by getting the views of Lovren and Bilic. They are certainly well placed to give a valid opinion as the Liverpool defender knows Kalinic well from the national team, which finished runner-up in the summer’s World Cup, and Bilic managed him when was in charge of Croatia. Terry is well connected and close to plenty of big names in English football, who Lovren and Bilic have certainly been in recent years, even though the former West Ham manager no longer works in this country. Some Liverpool fans might not be too impressed by Lovren giving a favour to their old foe Terry, but Villa play in a different division and there is no immediate prospect of the sides going toe to toe. Kalinic, who has signed for Villa for a fee rising to £7million and after penning a £30,000-a-week, four-and-a-half year contract, is expected to make a big impact at his new club. Certainly, Lovren and Bilic appear to think so.