.... but only as a 'Plan B' option...
[article="http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/690565/Liverpool-Transfer-News-Gossip-Rumours-Lucas-Leiva-Galatasaray-2-5million-Offfer"]GALATASARAY are reportedly preparing a £2.5million bid for Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva.
Lucas is being been lined up by the Turkish club should a deal for Marseille midfielder Lassana Diarra fall through.
Diarra has an agreement in place with Marseille allowing him to leave the club this summer, despite being under contract until 2019.
"I am free, I do not want not enter into a war with Marseille, and I think we will not get there. I hope they keep their word," Diarra told French publication L'Equipe in May.
However, Turkish newspaper Fanatik claim Galatasaray are concerned the deal may not go ahead and have got the ball rolling on a 'plan B' move for Lucas
The report says Gala's chairman Unal Aysal has called in the help of goalkeeping coach and Braziil legend Claudio Taffarel to work on the deal.
Taffarel won the 1994 World Cup and Gala reportedly hope he can sway Lucas, along with the promise of more regular first-team football.
Lucas made just 27 Premier League appearances for Liverpool last season and is currently behind an ever-increasing list of central midfielders at the club.
In addition to new signing Marko Grujic, Jurgen Klopp also has Emre Can, Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Joe Allen who he can deploy in a holding role next season[/article]
[article="http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/690565/Liverpool-Transfer-News-Gossip-Rumours-Lucas-Leiva-Galatasaray-2-5million-Offfer"]GALATASARAY are reportedly preparing a £2.5million bid for Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva.
Lucas is being been lined up by the Turkish club should a deal for Marseille midfielder Lassana Diarra fall through.
Diarra has an agreement in place with Marseille allowing him to leave the club this summer, despite being under contract until 2019.
"I am free, I do not want not enter into a war with Marseille, and I think we will not get there. I hope they keep their word," Diarra told French publication L'Equipe in May.
However, Turkish newspaper Fanatik claim Galatasaray are concerned the deal may not go ahead and have got the ball rolling on a 'plan B' move for Lucas
The report says Gala's chairman Unal Aysal has called in the help of goalkeeping coach and Braziil legend Claudio Taffarel to work on the deal.
Taffarel won the 1994 World Cup and Gala reportedly hope he can sway Lucas, along with the promise of more regular first-team football.
Lucas made just 27 Premier League appearances for Liverpool last season and is currently behind an ever-increasing list of central midfielders at the club.
In addition to new signing Marko Grujic, Jurgen Klopp also has Emre Can, Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Joe Allen who he can deploy in a holding role next season[/article]