The winter transfer window is frequently an odd thing, with deals cropping up that don't necessarily make sense for either team involved, but happen anyways. A good example of that is the rumor currently gaining more and more traction that Liverpool might be about to part ways with defensive midfielder Lucas Leiva, with Inter Milan as the club trying to bring in the Brazilian.
Liverpool and Inter Milan both mulling Lucas Leiva transfer
Inter Milan supposedly have midfielder Lucas Leiva near the top of their shopping list, and Liverpool might be willing to let him go.
New Inter manager Roberto Mancini has been eager to bring in talents that more closely align with vision and tactics than those previously brought in by Walter Mazzarri, and apparently he feels that Lucas is a better fit than his current midfield crop. A potential deal is believed to be for some £7 million, though it's a little uncertain if that would be in the form of a purchase option on a loan or a straight-up transfer.
Why it makes sense
Lucas is a very good defensive-minded midfielder, and none of Inter’s defensive mids have been playing especially well since Mancini came in and changed Inter’s tactical setup. Putting Lucas at the heart of central midfield where Zdravko Kuzmanovic currently struggles along would give Inter a nice boost and significantly more solidarity in midfield than they currently possess.
Bringing in Lucas to solidify the deeper portions of midfield would also benefit Inter by freeing up Fredy Guarin and Hernanes to be more available for roles higher up the pitch where they’re more effective, rather than playing deeper due to lack of options further back. You don’t often get to improve two or possibly even three positions with one acquisition, so doing so when you get to is a hard thing to pass up.
Why it doesn’t make sense
Zdravko Kuzmanovic. Gary Medel. Yann M'Villa. Those are Inter's three current defensive midfielders, and all three are very well-paid. Selling any of them wouldn't be easy because of those high wages, and adding a fourth highly-paid midfielder to that mix simply doesn't add up for a financially-strapped team, especially since they've added two other higher-wage players in Lukas Podolski and Xherdan Shaqiri this month.
There's also absolutely no reason for Liverpool to consider dumping Lucas. He's been very good since forcing his way back in to a regular starting role at Anfield, especially since a change in formation means that he's not partnering Steven "defensive liability" Gerrard in midfield any longer. With their midfield depth looking a little thin and their best replacement option for him -- youngster Emre Can -- currently a regular starter at center back out of necessity, why on earth would Liverpool part with one of their best recent performers?
Likelihood it happens
Despite all the reservations and oddities such a deal would entail, there's enough momentum and a sense of urgency to the more recent batch of rumors that it seems like something could actually happening here. Despite Liverpool's obvious need for him, Lucas has been subject to near-constant departure rumors for almost a year now. With that in mind coupled with the simple element of "transfer windows drive teams insane," we're going to rate this one a 5 out of 10.
