by Richard Buxton. Published Tue 31 Aug 2010 14:35, Last updated: 2010-08-31
Stoke City have made an audacious bid for Lucas Leiva despite insisting that he wants to remain at Liverpool.
Christian Poulsen and Raul Meireles' arrivals have seen the Brazil international's Anfield future under threat despite featuring heavily for Roy Hodgson's side in the early stages of the new campaign.
Lucas was a regular in the Reds' first-team under Rafael Benitez, Hodgson's predecessor, but could be in line for a move to the Premier League minnows if the right offer is received.
However the 23-year-old, who captained Liverpool's first competitive game under Hodgson against FK Rabotnicki, is hopeful of remaining on Merseyside.
"What is the situation? I don’t know. I’m still playing," he said.
"I'm going away with the national team (on Thursday) and I can’t say any more than that. We don’t have any games so we will be training for a week in Barcelona.
"If the club want to sell me, what can I do? I just have to wait and see what will happen. I need to be playing and I want to be playing but I believe that I am doing well.'
"The manager will choose who plays. I have a contract here and if I don’t get anything good for me or for the club, then I will stay."
http://www.clickliverpool.com/sport/liverpool-fc/1210524-stoke-city-target-late-bid-for-liverpool-fcs-lucas-leiva.html?