Lucas Leiva’s proposed move to Galatasaray this summer was blocked by Jurgen Klopp, an agent assigned to the deal has claimed. Metin Korkmaz, Lucas’s representative, says that the Brazilian had his heart set on a move to Turkey having been told that he could leave Liverpool.
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“Klopp was behind the transfer hitting the rocks, he wants Lucas to stay and the player had to listen”, he said.
Inter could struggle to sign Lucas as the Reds have been reluctant to release the experienced midfielder over the transfer window.
According to reports from Turkish-Football, Galatasaray sporting director Levent Nazifoglu has confirmed his interest in signing Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel.
Leiva did not feature during his club’s opening Premier League match – a 4-3 win over Arsenal at the Emirates – with Klopp instead preferring a midfield trio of Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum and Adam Lallana.
James Milner, Daniel Sturridge, Sheyi Ojo, Loris Karius, Joe Gomez and Mamadou Sakho are all now sidelined with various injuries.
The 29-year-old has been a Liverpool player for nine years.
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Galatasaray would have guaranteed Lucas – who has just a year remaining on his contract – first-team football after agreeing a salary which would have seen him take a slight reduction on his current package at Anfield.
