Despite having other more pressing priorities that need to be addressed ahead of the start of the Serie A season, Italian champions Juventus have shown an interest in taking Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva to Turin with rumours once again beginning to swirl about the Brazilian’s future on Merseyside.
After being left out of the squad that beat Stoke City in their first Premier League game of the new season, the Reds midfielder reportedly had a bust up with boss Brendan Rodgers over his increasingly marginalized role at the club. Although the 28-year old played in a behind closed doors friendly with Welsh side TNS earlier in the week with an eye to facing newly promoted AFC Bournemouth on Monday, there’s little to suggest that he’ll be earning his spot in the starting eleven back anytime soon.
Liverpool will reportedly listen to offers for a player that they value at £8mil, but they’ve stopped well short of putting him on the transfer list. With former Manchester City man James Milner almost certain to continue partnering Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson in the middle of the park and with both Emre Can and an injured Joe Allen ahead of him in the pecking order, it doesn’t sound like Lucas will be getting the time on the pitch that a player of his calibre deserves — that is, unless something drastically changes or he makes a move.
Continually linked with Napoli during former boss Rafa Benintez’s time in Italy, the Brazilian stayed true to the Reds, brushing off speculation and staying focused on earning his spot back, but the 28-year old could be granted a new lease on life should he jump ship for Serie A. Along with Juventus, who will reportedly bring in a new striker and a central defender before the transfer window closes, but AC Milan and Inter Milan are also rumoured to be interested in Lucas with Nerazzurri boss Roberto Mancini already making his interest known. With just over two weeks left in the transfer window, you never know what’s going to happen.
