So we have 3 key problems with Lovren.
1. He isn't good enough on the ball
2. He misses too many games with injury
3. He losses aerial duels
That seems fair. Those certainly look like three problems we don't want in our center halves. On the plus side, these things are all very measurable. So I will run a search to find Center Halves who played more league minutes than Lovren (he missed too much because of injury), have a better passing accuracy (he isn't good enough on the ball), have 3+ Aerial Duels per 90 (not passive) in order of Aerial Duel success rate.
Let's first look at the Premier League. This is all center halves who have equal or greater than the average amount of aerial duels (3), equal or greater than minutes played to Lovren (2035), equal or greater passing accuracy (88%) and equal or greater than Aerial Duel success rates (63,58%)
Name A.Duel/90 A.Duel %
Virgil van Dijk 5,41 72,22%
Dejan Lovren 4,56 63,58%
We got two, let's sign one of them. Oh wait... Okay so we need to broaden our search here. Let's try the other 3 leagues I have data for - La Liga, Bundesliga & Serie A
Name A.Duel/90 A.Duel %
Sergio Ramos 3,45 64,8%
Raúl Albiol 3,09 64,71%
Our center back problems are solved. All we need to do is sign Ramos or Raul Albiol who turns 33 when the season starts.
So it's not a big list. I'll try again being a bit loose with some of the rules. We will reduce it to 19 appearances - as in at least half a season of games. I'll reduce it to 2,7 Aerial Duels - this is the top 100 defenders on the list. And 85% passing accuracy - which is the top 100 again.
Name A.Duel/90 A.Duel %
Gary Cahill 4,11 75,21%
Virgil van Dijk 5,41 72,22%
Kostas Manolas 3,04 69,09%
Sokratis 3,15 67,48%
Ömer Toprak 3,66 66,67%
Chris Smalling 3,75 66,23%
Sergio Ramos 3,45 64,8%
Raúl Albiol 3,09 64,71%
Jonathan Tah 2,81 64,6%
Jan Vertonghen 3,26 64,2%
Dejan Lovren 4,56 63,58%
YES. We are close to finding our Lovren replacement. Now to filter out all the players who are older than Lovren, play for a club who wouldn't sell to us.
Name A.Duel/90 A.Duel %
Virgil van Dijk 5,41 72,22%
Kostas Manolas 3,04 69,09%
Ömer Toprak 3,66 66,67%
Jonathan Tah 2,81 64,6%
Dejan Lovren 4,56 63,58%
Shit that isn't a very long list now once again. But we have Omer Toprak, Tah & Manolas. Let's get scouting. Tah looks a big guy, slow on the turn and poor acceleration here. Not sure about that in our system. I can tell you Manolas & Tah make roughly the same amount of errors/90 as Lovren. All three get caught on the ball more in possession - which is a problem for a center back. They also give the ball away more in their own half - another problem. But they are all dribbled past less - although this could simply be because they are being isolated less 1-v-1 in more defensive systems who don't play as high a line.
But we have 3 names to check out. Given Toprak is 29 next week, and the strike rate at that age in terms of players adapting to the more physical and intense Premier League isn't great, I suspect he wouldn't be a viable target for the club. So you probably have two names to check out. Have at it!