Liverpool transfer news: Asier Illarramendi on verge of completing Liverpool move

Five minutes later and he was once more out the door of the Bernabeu, with Rafa suddenly having no room for him in his line-up. The fixture saw the South American midfielder being left out of the squad, amid growing speculations surrounding his future.

The 28-year-old enforcer has struggled with fitness in recent seasons and the arrival of James Milner and the good-form shown by German Emre Can in a defensive midfield role has led to Lucas Leiva falling down the Liverpool pecking order.

It is believed that Benitez has no plans for Brazilian midfielder, Lucas Silva, who is expected to be loaned out, while the former Liverpool manager is not convinced by Asier Illarramendi.

Given the player’s reaction to being dropped, there seems no real way back for him at Anfield. Why not actively keep Lucas if that’s the case?

With Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Emre Can and Joe Allen already vying for the spots in midfield, Lawrenson reckons that Lucas could be the unlucky man to miss out – and says that he doesn’t expect a replacement to be coming in should he choose to go. “Clearly, it’s more about what players can do with the ball rather than their destructive qualities”.

“Lucas would appear to be the victim of a shift in the way the game is going at present”.

Finally, reports in Italy claim Roma want to sign defender Mamadou Sakho – but only on loan. We didn’t score enough goals, and maybe Rodgers believes Lucas just doesn’t offer enough in an attacking sense.

Liverpool have been connected with Spanish midfielder on and off all summer, with an alleged Liverpool bid getting allegedly rejected by by the player despite Real Madrid being happy with it.

Tuttosport, as cited by website Football Italia, claims that Joorabchian is likely to initiate negotiations with Inter, who are believed to be keen on securing a defensive midfielder before the summer transfer window closes. “Maybe it’s none of this, though”, Lawrenson stressed.