Liverpool Midfielder Lucas Leiva has admitted he is seriously considering his long-term future at the club. The Brazilian is the longest serving player in the Reds squad, with his ten-year anniversary due this summer, but he has become a squad player under manager Jurgen Klopp.
Lucas has managed just 14 appearances this season and only three Premier League starts, and the 30-year-old knows he needs more game time. "The situation is not great,” the Brazil international told Press Association Sport. “It is not something I want for my future, to have not many games. I don't want this for my career, especially at my age. “I'm not close to retiring and have many years ahead of me. You want to play - we get paid to play - but I just try to be professional and help as much as I can and when I have the chance do my best. "At this moment I have to deal with this and try to find a solution when I have the chance. "I have to be professional, think about the team and see what is going to happen.”
Lucas will only leave in January if he can secure a permanent deal which would virtually see him to the end of his career. He has been the subject of a number of lucrative offers in the last three transfer windows, and was linked with a move to Inter Milan earlier this month, But never did he agitate to leave – the Reds’ longest current servant ultimately made sacrifices in order to help out the club as his experience was still needed. Such loyalty has been rewarded, with Klopp reluctantly accepting he should be allowed to leave should the right bid arrive in this window. Lucas insists he does not know where he will be come February but admits the team's hunt for silverware - they are currently second in the Premier League and in the ELF Cup semi-finals - may play some part in his decision.
"The best place for me to be now is Liverpool,” he added. “I cannot say [where] in one week's time, one month's time or four months' time. I have to judge when something comes up if it is better. "It has been a special season already and we have a chance to win trophies and that is something I consider as well." Lucas captained a much-changed side in Sunday's goalless FA Cup draw with Plymouth and is hopeful of more game time in Wednesday's EFL Cup semi-final first leg at Southampton. "Everyone is ready to play,” he said. “Especially for me, hopefully I can play as I played all the rounds until now. "It is a competition we want to do well in as we came very close last year.
"Hopefully we can have two good games in the semi-final against a very difficult team and get to the final." Lucas has seen many ups and downs during his time at Anfield but believes the Reds are at their collective peak under Klopp. "I think in terms of spirit it is probably the best since I've been here," said the midfielder. "We have a very good group of players, there is not one player who tries to be the main man, so it is really team-work and it is really good to work with all of them. "It has been working really well for us at the moment and hopefully we can carry on working like that and the end of the season will be a positive one."
