Lucas Much Needed, Hyypia's Replacement Need Not Be Purchased

As always, the end of season period is when fans talk about which players should be signed and sold.

And not surprisingly, Lucas Leiva is among the few players which most Liverpool fans do not want to see in the team next season. Not surprising as Lucas has been the one fans criticize heavily all the time, he is the one put to blame for most matches and he is the one identified as the weakest link of Liverpool's midfield.

I was a fool to agree with what most fans think but now, I think that Lucas should not be sold. In fact, he is still much needed in the team.

Surely Lucas is not a great midfielder when compared to Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso, which is probably the reason why fans have been thinking that he is below par.

However, Lucas is an important member of the team. Technically, he has many years before his peak and therefore can still improve a lot. I strongly believe that his passing accuracy, tackle timing, and man-marking awareness will only get better next season.

That is not just the reason why I want him to be a Liverpool player for many years. The primary reason is his attitude and loyalty toward Liverpool, as well as his fiery determination whenever chances are given.

Although he was frustrated for not getting enough playing time last season due to the magnificence of Mascherano and Alonso, he has been reiterating about his desire to stay in Liverpool for a long time.

Further more, he did not moan about the physical approach of Premiership players since his arrival in summer 2007, unlike many foreigners who often complain about the physical challenges faced in the Premiership. Instead, Lucas spent extra hours at Melwood doing additional exercises in order to adapt to the physical nature of Premiership football.

Lucas has indeed strengthened himself physically and hopefully that will increase his performance in the coming seasons.

Meanwhile, Liverpool fans are craving for the signings of a back-up striker, a winger, and full-backs. There is a minority who thinks signing a centre-back should be prioritized.

The departure of Sami Hyypia will certainly leave a gap in the team, but I don't think that a centre-back needs to be purchased.

Sylvain Distin has been linked with Liverpool previously.

With Jamie Carragher, Martin Skrtel, and Daniel Agger very likely to stay in Liverpool, what they need is only a fourth choice centre-back. And the centre-back pairing is generally the least rotated in any football team unless there is an injury to one of both of the centre-backs.

However, Hyypia made a total of 19 appearances last season due to several injuries on Skrtel, Agger, and Alvaro Arbeloa.

Personally, I would prefer the fourth choice centre-back to be someone coming from Liverpool's Academy. In this case, Martin Kelly is the perfect choice. Kelly made his debut last season in a Champions League game against PSV Eindhoven.

Besides, Kelly is pretty much of the same mould as Hyypia physically. And his physical advantage should give him an edge in breaking into the first team.

Another option would be the versatile Mikel San Jose, who represents Spain in the youth level. The highly rated former Athletic Bilbao defender is yet to make his debut.