Report: Liverpool in midfield enforcer talks, £12,000-a-week extra will swing the deal
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Report: Liverpool in midfield enforcer talks, £12,000-a-week extra will swing the deal

Wayne Veysey
Wayne Veysey

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

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By North-west correspondent Alex Stevens

Lucas Leiva is close to agreeing a season-long loan move to Galatasaray, according to a report.

Turkish outlet FotoMac claim the Champions League regulars have had an £800,000 bid to take the midfield enforcer for the 2016-17 season accepted by Liverpool.

However, it is said that the two clubs have not yet been able to agree the salary terms of the Brazil international.

The report claims that Galatasaray have offered to pay £48,000-a-week of Lucas' current £60,000-a-week contract.

Jan Olde Riekerink’s side are so far unwilling to pay the entirety of the 29-year-old’s contract, leaving a shortfall of £12,000-a-week.

The midfielder is Liverpool's longest-serving player after he was signed for the Merseyside giants by Rafael Benitiez in 2007 from Gremio.

But he has entered the final year of his contract and

Lucas’ future faced similar uncertainty last summer before he experienced a revival under Jurgen Klopp.

However, he started just eight times in the league after the turn of the year and he admitted recently he may find opportunities more limited as Klopp adds to his squad.

In total last season, the Brazilian played 40 times and was an important part of Liverpool's progress to the Europa League final.

“It is the first transfer window that Klopp will participate in more actively in for Liverpool, so I’ll have a better idea when I return [for pre-season],” he told Radio Jovem Pan.

Lucas was behind the likes of Emre Can, Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Joe Allen in the pecking order last season and Klopp has added Marko Grujic to the central midfield ranks.

In other Liverpool transfer news, the club have hijacked AC Milan's move for a £6.6million defender.

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