Lucas Not Worried About Possible Midfield Signings

Following Lucas Leiva's injury against Aston Villa, reports quickly emerged linking Liverpool to a string of midfielders, from Lazio's Hernanes to Porto's Fernando to Rubin Kazan's Yann M'Vila and Spartak's Romulo. While there's an outside chance the club are still looking at M'Vila and Romulo, Hernanes was quickly counted out due to age and cost while Fernando now appears almost certain to sign a pre-contract agreement to move to Manchester City in the summer.

Of all the midfield names linked to Liverpool, though, none came and went more quickly than Nigel de Jong, ex of Manchester City and currently plying his trade for AC Milan in Serie A. With new Milan manager Clarence Seedorf signalling he has no desire to see the midfield destroyer leave in January, particularly on loan as many speculated would be the case should a Liverpool deal come to pass, it's a rumour that seemed dead in the water almost as soon as it was floated.

That didn't stop ESPN Brazil from asking Lucas what he thought of the possibility Liverpool could bring in a player at his position before the window closes. Lucas' response might better apply to M'Vila or Romulo, both of whom the club is still faintly—if perhaps only hopefully—rumoured to be interested in, but regardless of who could arrive, Liverpool's lone holding midfielder sees any potential signing as being about stregthening the squad rather than covering for his injury.

"He is a good player and produced many good performances at Manchester City," said Lucas of Milan's walking red card, a player who at times can be a liability for his own side with reckless challenges but would nevertheless fill a need in Liverpool's threadbare midfield. "If he comes it will be good for the squad because it's important to have a strong squad. I believe that if anyone comes who plays in my position it will not be because of my injury but rather to strengthen the squad."

For now, though, it seems increasingly likely that Liverpool's only signing of the January window will be attacker Yevhen Konoplyanka, whose transfer continues to inch towards completion with Liverpool remaining the most likely destination for the Dnipro and Ukraine star.

More from The Liverpool Offside

Follow @LFCOffside Follow @SBNationSoccer

• On Three in Midfield and Learning from Mistakes
• Tottenham not Chasing Konoplyanka's Signature
• Liverpool Nearing £16M Deal for Ukraine Star Yevhen Konoplyanka
• Skrtel Hails Liverpool's "Perfect Performance"
• Konoplyanka Excited by Serious Liverpool Interest