Lucas Leiva signing thread

[greglt]

Mr Bascombe has confirmed this :

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0500liverpoolfc/0100news/tm_headline=reds-sign-brazilian-star%26method=full%26objectid=19087554%26siteid=50061-name_page.html

[ningnangnong]

Reds sign Brazilian star

May 11 2007

by Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

LIVERPOOL today made their first significant transfer move of the summer with a swoop for 20-year-old Brazilian Lucas Leiva.

The youngster, rated one of the most exciting emerging talents in South America, has signed from Brazilian club Gremio.

Leiva was recently called up to his national team, and Rafa Benitez believes the central midfielder will be challenging for a first team place at the beginning of next season.

Leiva will join the Reds in the summer after Benitez beat a host of top clubs to his signature.

The fee has remained undisclosed at this stage, but is believed to be around £5m.

“He’s a player with a lot of quality who we watched playing for the Brazil Under-20s,” Benitez said today.

“He will be ready to join the first team squad from the start of next season. He's a very good signing for us and likes to be an attacking midfielder, but he has many qualities.

“We've now reached an agreement for the player to join us.”

Leiva will be the second South American to join the Reds this summer, following Argentinian left winger Sebastian Leto.

CLICKY - The Echo

That's good enough for me.

[Reece]

Gerrard
Alonso
Sissoko
Masher
Lucas
Zenden

Is there a better CM in the world?

[Guest]

Gerrard
Alonso
Sissoko
Masher
Lucas
Zenden

Is there a better CM in the world?

Let's wait until Lucas proves himself in England.

[Reece]

Let's wait until Lucas proves himself in England.

No.

[Zapater]

Gerrard
Alonso
Sissoko
Masher
Lucas
Zenden

Is there a better CM in the world?

The only team that can challenge us in this area is Milan imo.

Gattuso
Pirlo
Kaká
Ambrosini
Gourcuff
Seedorf
Brochi
Kaladze(even though his a defender pretty good DM)

I don't think any other teams come close.

[Red Chilli]

Gerrard
Alonso
Sissoko
Masher
Lucas
Zenden

Is there a better CM in the world?

If you are going to play 5 players in the CM position then you probably won't find a stronger CM in the world

[Reece]

If you are going to play 5 players in the CM position then you probably won't find a stronger CM in the world

I didn't mean all at once you plonker

[Red Chilli]

Anyway, it's 6

[Rashid]

He is an attacking midfield says Rafa so I guess he will play "between the lines" or out wide.

[Red Chilli]

He is an attacking midfield says Rafa so I guess he will play "between the lines" or out wide.

The touchlines?

[AFII]

---------------Reina
--------Carra--Milito--Agger
Alves----------Mascherano----Riise
--------Alonso-----------Gerrard
---------------Lucas
------------------Eto'o

[Neil Young]

---------------Reina
--------Carra--Milito--Agger
Alves----------Mascherano----INSUA/LETO
--------Alonso-----------Gerrard
---------------Lucas
------------------Eto'o

[dww]

---------------Reina
--------Carra--Milito--Agger
Alves----------Mascherano----Riise
--------Alonso-----------Gerrard
---------------Lucas
------------------Eto'o

If our regular formation has three at the back I will eat AnfieldAnfields hat, which Bellamy seems to have given an undeserved reprieve.

[Taffy]

This seems a fantastic signing if it is confirmed.

He looks exactly the kind of player we need, a player who can pass the ball, dribble with the ball, is comfortable on the ball, and can score goals as well as defend (apparently), going by the snipets I've seen on here. Sounds very much like Gerrard to me.

Quite excited by this! Great to see us making these kinds of signings at last, adn along with Leto, the winger, we look like having a lot of hair and skill on the pitch soon!