Liverpool turning to another Brazilian to plug Lucas gap
Published:With the hourglass draining on the January transfer window, Brendan Rodgers’ search for midfield reinforcement is intensifying and the new name in the frame is Spartak Moscow’s Romulo.
As a fellow Brazilian international defensive midfielder, the parallels with Lucas are clear, while Romulo is a potential rival to the Liverpool man in the national squad.
In fact, the former Vasco da Gama youth product was actually earmarked for a potential Reds switch in the summer after impressing during the 2012/13 campaign, even getting on the scoresheet in a Champions League group game against Barcelona.
But with injury prone Lucas crocked long term again, Liverpool have been forced into stepping up their interest in 23-year-old Romulo, as they try at all costs to keep their 17/10-rated tilt at the top four alive.
No offer has yet been made public, though the Anfield outfit have reportedly entered into dialogue with the Russian club over the potential transfer.
Even if Rodgers does manage to land the Spartak enforcer, he may still have to look elsewhere during this window as the list of those joining Lucas on the Melwood physio table mounts up.
Ahead of their potential FA Cup fourth-round banana skin against Championship Bournemouth – where the Cherries are 7/1 shots to cause the Reds live televised embarrassment – right-back Glen Johnson has been ruled out ‘indefinitely.’
It transpires that the overworked England full-back has been nursing a series of ongoing injuries this season, but has now hit breaking point, with his ankle cited as a major source of concern.
Rodgers has hinted that youth products Martin Kelly and John Flanagan will get their chance, but he won’t rule out further buys or loans if the right players are available.
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