The Daily Telegraph reports that Newcastle United want to include Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva as part of any deal to take Dutch inernational Georginio Wijnaldum to Anfield.
With 29 caps fror Brazil, Lucas has been an undervalued member of the Liverpool squad in recent seasons. With 313 appearances for the Reds since joining in 2007, the 29 year-old has the experience that we’re looking for.
More importantly, we’re familiar with him from seeing Liverpool matches on television or their visits to St James Park. Losing a ‘name’ player but bringing in a similarly well-known player as part of the same deal must surely represent good business for us?
Importantly, Lucas has shown his willingness to do the dirty work of the defensive midfield role. We’ll need that when the going gets tough, not least during the opening dozen or so games of the season when we face some of the better sides in the division.