Stoke make audacious late bid for Lucas

Stoke have made an audacious move to sign Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva but the Brazilian wants to stay at Anfield.

West Ham have also shown interest as part of a deal for Carlton Cole but if Lucas has to leave he would rather it be for a club with Champions League aspirations.

Ultimately, though, the Brazilian has vowed to fight for his place having seen it threatened by the arrival of Christian Poulsen and Raul Meireles.

The 23-year-old, a regular under former manager Rafael Benitez, has seen competition increase and despite impressing new boss Roy Hodgson in pre-season it seems he will be third choice for his preferred central position.

After Sunday's victory over West Brom Hodgson said he could not rule out the Brazil international's sale if a big bid came in but added that it would not be ideal to lose a player so late in the transfer window.

'What is the situation? I don't know. I'm still playing,' said the club's young player of the year last season. 'At the moment, I haven't had any offers. I don't know if the club wants to sell me. I just have to wait.

'I'm going away with the national team (on Thursday) and I can't say any more than that. We don't have any games so we will be training for a week in Barcelona.

'If the club want to sell me, what can I do? I just have to wait and see what will happen. I need to be playing and I want to be playing but I believe that I am doing well.'

'The manager will choose who plays. I have a contract here and if I don't get anything good for me or for the club, then I will stay.'

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.