Lucas Leiva‘s proposed move to Galatasaray this summer was blocked by Jurgen Klopp, an agent assigned to the deal has claimed.
Lucas was set to join the Turkish giants ahead of 2016/17, but the deal broke down last week, with Galatasaray moving onto other targets.
The Brazilian, who is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, would have left Liverpool after nine seasons, but instead remains as part of Klopp’s first-team squad – for now at least.
Lucas would play a peripheral role at Anfield this season but Metin Korkmaz, an agent employed by Galatasaray to help smooth over negotiations, has claims Klopp blocked the move.
“Klopp was behind the transfer hitting the rocks, he wants Lucas to stay and the player had to listen,” Korkmaz says.
“If it was up to Lucas he would have made the transfer.”
Klopp could see Lucas as cover at both centre-back and in midfield, but the decision to keep him at the club against his wishes is a baffling one.
Lucas is behind Mamadou Sakho, Joel Matip, Dejan Lovren and Ragnar Klavan in the centre-back pecking order, while the likes of Emre Can, Jordan Henderson and Kevin Stewart are likely to be preferred in the holding role in the middle of the park.
The 29-year-old made just 23 starts under Klopp last season, and with Liverpool out of European football in 2016/17, is unlikely to improve on this in his 10th campaign with the club. He’s also out of contract in 11 months’ time.
Klopp seemingly appreciates his quality in defence, and his performances at times last season suggest he could perform well as backup there.
With Sakho and Joe Gomez both injured, and Matip still working his way back to fitness, it may well be that a reluctance to sign defensive cover prompted Klopp’s decision.
But with Lucas past his prime, far from first choice and contract running down, retaining his services seems questionable.
Perhaps a late move could still materialise for Lucas.
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