Reports: Liverpool willing to sell Lucas Leiva to fund move for Southampton’s Dejan Lovren
Liverpool are prepared to sell midfielder Lucas Lieva in order to raise the £25 million in funds needed to sign Southampton centre-back Dejan Lovren, reports the Daily Express.
Southampton have rejected the Reds’ offer of £20 million for the Croatian international, and are demanding a fee of £25 million before they agree to a deal. Despite Lovren’s determination to force a Liverpool move through, the Saints are refusing to change their stance.
Liverpool have already signed Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, and Emre Can this summer, and they are expected to complete a £20 million deal for Benfica’s Lazar Markovic shortly.
Luis Suarez appears likely to be joining Barcelona this summer for a fee of £63 million, though that would not cover all of Liverpool’s transfer plans, and they are now ready to offload Lucas as well.
Lucas has been linked with a move to Serie A side Napoli, where he could reunite with Rafa Benitez, who signed him for Liverpool back in 2007. Liverpool are keen to sell the 27-year-old permanently, but Napoli would prefer to sign him on loan with an option to buy. Inter Milan are also interested in the 27-year-old, who has made 24 international appearances for Brazil.
He only started 16 league games for Liverpool last season, and the signing of Can could reduce his chances of first-team football further.