Galatasaray are prepared to match Liverpool’s €3 million valuation for Lucas Leiva as they step up efforts to push through the transfer according to NTV Spor.
Per the source, the Lions have agreed personal terms with Lucas but were locked in talks over the 29-year-old’s transfer fee.
Galatasaray are expected to officially release a statement confirming talks on the stock exchange.
Brazilian legend Claudio Taffarel also got involved with the Lions transfer efforts after holding a meeting with Lucas.
The Hurriyet newspaper report that Taffarel advised Lucas to consider the move and assured that he would play first-team football.
Taffarel played at Galatasaray before continuing as goalkeeper coach for the past 10 seasons.
Galatasaray sporting director Levent Nazifoglu also recently confirmed interest and went one step further in claiming that it would not be a surprise to see Lucas join.
“If Lucas Leiva puts pen to paper on a deal for Galatasaray it would not be a surprise to be honest,” Nazifoglu told Turkish sports radio station Radyospor.
Lucas would end a nine year spell at Liverpool if he were to leave over the summer. The Brazilian midfielder joined the Reds from Gremio in 2007.
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