Lucas Adds Fuel to the Nigel De Jong to Liverpool Fire

Liverpool’s link to veteran AC Milan destroyer Nigel de Jong died out as fast as it came up, but in a weird twist of events, injured Reds midfielder Lucas has reignited the chatter by telling ESPN Brazil that he’d be happy if the Dutchman arrived on Merseyside before the window closed.

There didn’t seem to be much truth in the speculation that Brendan Rodgers and company were sniffing around the 29-year old as a potential stop-gap loan signing following the Brazilian being ruled out for up to two months, but now you have to wonder if the Anfield outfit are going to make a move for de Jong following Michael Essien’s move to the San Siro earlier in the week.

When asked about Liverpool’s interest in the Dutchman, Lucas seemed upbeat. “He is a good player and produced many good performances at Manchester City” said the Brazilian. “If he comes it will be good for the squad because it’s important to have a strong squad.” The Reds have been linked with a host of defensive midfielders since the window opened, and though de Jong seemed an unlikely candidate to be targeted by the youth conscious side, these comments certainly make it sound like there’s more to the rumours than mere imagination.

For the time being, the Reds appear to be wrapped up in the pursuit of highly rated winger Yevhen Konoplyanka from Ukrainian side FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, though the Merseysiders could move quickly as the window closes to snap up the former Manchester City defensive shield. Depending on how much of the move has already been discussed – if any, of course – between the two sides, formalizing the Dutchman’s switch to a league he’s already very familiar with could be a simple process should the two sides be motivated to make a loan, or otherwise, happen.