Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva is set to stay at the club, following reports that Turkish giants Besiktas have ended their interest.
The Brazilian’s future on Merseyside was a cause for much speculation last week after being left out of manager Brendan Rodgers’ match-day squads for the club’s opening two games of the new season against Stoke City and AFC Bournemouth.
Then it was revealed that Lucas was set to complete a loan move to Turkey at some point last weekend, however, he was handed his first start of the campaign against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Monday night and Rodgers insisted afterwards that the 28-year-old was going nowhere [via Sky Sports].
Now Besiktas president Fikret Orman has confirmed negotiations over the defensive midfielder have ended and they will turn their attentions elsewhere:
“Liverpool do not want him to go. The transfer can only go ahead with their say so there is nothing we can do right now, Orman said [via Liverpool Echo].
Lucas could retain his place in the Reds starting XI for the visit of West Ham United to Anfield on Saturday afternoon as club captain Jordan Henderson could miss the game through injury.
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