Liverpool seem to have done most of their acquisition for the summer and departures are now more central to the Anfield agenda.
One player who may be surplus to requirements is Liverpool’s longest serving current star, Lucas Leiva. Signed in 2007 the Brazilian has played over 300 games for the club but he’s been the subject of transfer speculation this summer, with a move to Turkey mooted.
But the well-placed Liverpool Echo reports that the deal is in doubt with the sporting director of Galatasaray saying that the transfer is currently dead in the water:
“We are no longer pursuing Lucas Leiva, we will continue efforts to sign alternative names instead.”
Said Levent Nazifoglu.
AT 29 the man capped 24 times by Brazil can still get around the pitch nicely and is something of a humble man’s Luka Modric. He’s a mobile and selfless water carrier with a nice range of passing.
So he may well attract interest from other clubs before the window closes at the start of September.
But with Marko Grujic and James Milner both taking knocks at the weekend Liverpool’s midfield looks a little light beyond Henderson and Can and perhaps it would be a blessing if Leiva did stay.
You can click here to see some of Leiva’s Liverpool highlights.
Reds fans: should Jurgen Klopp look to offload Leiva or does he still have something to offer the squad?