Rumour Mongering: Galatasary Interested in Lucas Despite Injury

Lucas Leiva is currently set to miss a month due to a hamstring strain suffered in pre-season. It’s the latest in a long strong of disappointing injuries for the midfielder, who for a time was amongst the best defensive midfield players in Europe.

Despite that, and despite many assuming it meant an end to interest from Galatasary, today rumour has it that a move remains on the table. According to Fanatik, a Turkish sports outlet, the Istanbul club remains interested and would still be willing to pay £2.5M for the Brazilian midfielder.

Whether that’s an offer that makes his sale worthwhile to Liverpool might be another matter given the influx of television money that has meant earning more than £20M from selling Jordon Ibe and Brad Smith this summer. In the current market, £2.5M doesn’t feel like very much.

Still, if Lucas’ injuries are going to continue to be a problem, something that prevent him even from being counted on as a reliable backup and rotational option, the club might consider it. And if Lucas decides he’s still like more than to be a backup and rotational option, the player might, too.

Ever since suffering a torn ACL in December of 2011, Lucas has struggled to re-gain his pre-injury speed, acceleration, and stamina. Worse than that, since that first major injury it has felt as though the player simply isn’t able to remain fit consistently, even in a more limited role.

That situation has seen him increasingly linked with a move away, most often to Italy or Turkey. In the past, the talk has never turned into anything more. We have a little more than a month now to find out if this summer will be the same, or if this time around a move will actually go through.