Club vice-president delivers emphatic verdict on Liverpool senior star speculation
By Matt Farr
Gremio vice-president Odorico Roman has ruled out the possibility of the club signing Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva as a move would be ‘too difficult’.
The 30-year-old has been linked with a return to his boyhood club, and is out of contract at Anfield at the end of the summer.
However, according to Roman, while there is interest in his services, a move for the Liverpool first-teamer is out of the question.
He told UOL: “Lucas Leiva is a player who is in the fans’ imagination.
“He is a player that would be important to bring. We made an approach, but at the moment, it is not possible.
“I’m not going to feed false expectations. It’s very difficult for Lucas Leiva to come to Gremio. The conditions are very difficult.”
Lucas was expected to leave Liverpool last month, with several clubs – including Stoke, Inter Milan and Atletico Mineiro reportedly keen to land the Brazilian.
However, the versatile midfielder instead stayed put at Anfield, where he has become a valuable first-team player under Jurgen Klopp in recent weeks.
He has made 19 appearances in all competitions this season, playing in both his traditional midfield, as well as a more unfamiliar defensive role.
Klopp has deployed Lucas as a centre-back in their last two league fixtures, with Dejan Lovren out injured.
Football Insider verdict
Even though Lucas has come back into the first-team fold since being linked with a move away from Anfield in January, he is almost certain to leave at the end of his contract in the summer. A return to Brazil is a high possibility, and there will no doubt be a host of teams waiting in the wings to snap up a player with considerable talent. Lucas has fond memories of his time at Gremio, and would certainly consider a move back there. However, although Gremio’s vice-president believes a move would be too difficult, he would be fantastic piece of business for the club and the fans. The reasons behind the reported ‘failed approach’ are unclear – perhaps the player’s wages – but Lucas was a considerable part of their history and could be a big part of their future.
In other Liverpool transfer news, former Reds boss Brendan Rodgers admits he was warned against signing this player for the club.
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