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Lucas gives verdict on Klopp amid growing doubts about his Liverpool future
By Dominic Toner
Long-serving Liverpool midfielder Lucas Levia has supported the decision to hand Jurgen Klopp a new deal at Anfield.
Lucas told the official Liverpool website: “It’s great news for the club and for the fans as well because the relationship with him started really well and we hope that he will have a lot of success at the club.
“He came eight, nine months ago. We got to two finals last year and of course this is the first full season we will have under him. About the new contract – it’s always good, because it shows that the club believe in what he is doing and the decisions he is making.”
The Brazilian holding midfielder arrived at Liverpool back in 2007 under Rafa Benitez and is the longest serving player in the current squad.
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Lucas made 27 appearances last season in all competitions with six of them being substitute features and picked up the clubs player of the month for February.
The 29-year-old has made over 200 appearances in a Liverpool shirt and his most successful season to date came in the 2010-11 season where he was named the clubs player of the year.
Lucas’ future has been under doubt this window, as he has been linked with a move away from the club after slipping down the central midfield pecking order.
Manager Klopp only joined Liverpool last October after the sacking of Brendan Rodgers, but after a positive reaction to his style of play and a new -found feel good factor at Anfield, the German has agreed to further his contract.
The German has already set about improving his squad for next season with the additions of Sadio Mane, Loris Karius and Marko Grujic who’s £5million transfer was agreed in January.
With the backing of the Liverpool board Klopp will be aiming to better last season’s eighth-placed finish in the Premier League, which has meant they will face no European commitments in the upcoming campaign.
In other Liverpool news, they have received a major boost as key man is set to make a return to training and be available for August.