Palermo don’t value Lucas at £5m

Serie A side Palermo has moved quickly to deny reports that they have made a £5million bid for Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva.

The club did confirm that they have made a bid for the Brazilian, but it is lower than the reported £5m. It is understood that Liverpool won’t accept any bids for Lucas lower than £8million.

Palermo sporting director Walter Sabatini said, “We made a first offer to Liverpool for Lucas. But I deny that we have offered €6m. That is too much.”

It is thought that Liverpool could well lose central midfielder Javier Mascherano this summer, with the likes of Inter Milan and Barcelona said to be interested in the Argentine international. Losing Lucas as well could leave Roy Hodgson with less central midfield options – Steven Gerrard and Alberto Aquilani would almost certainly become Liverpool’s regular starting midfield pair.

Liverpool have rejected Palermo’s bid.