Newcastle United have been installed as the favourites to sign Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva this summer, according to the latest bookmakers’ odds.
Sky Bet have priced the north-east giants at 7/4 to land the Brazil international before the transfer window shuts on 3 September.
Liverpool are narrowly ahead in the betting of Brazilian club Gremio, who are 2/1 to re-sign the player who graduated from their academy before leaving for Anfield in the summer of 2007.
This comes after the Northern Echo reported that Rafael Benitez’s side have made enquiries about the availability of the 30-year-old as they look to increase their midfield options.
Lucas has spent the last 10 years at Liverpool and accumulated 346 first-team appearances.
He remained a first-team squad player last season and played in 32 matches in all competitions despite not always being a regular starter.
It has been widely reported that Lucas has been told he can leave Liverpool this summer and he appeared to wave farewell to the Anfield faithful on the final match of the 2016/17 season against Middlesbrough when he was brought on for a late substitute appearance.
Lucas’ current contract at Anfield is the subject of confusion with some sources claiming it runs out this summer, but James Pearce from the Liverpool Echo reports that it expires in 2018.