Liverpool Transfer News: Henrikh Mkhitaryan Bid Rumours, Lucas Leiva Latest

Liverpool have reportedly had a £15 million bid accepted for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan but will reportedly face a fight from Juventus if they’re to land the player.

That’s according to Simon Rice of the Independent, who attributes reports that say the offer has been lodged and accepted by the Bundesliga giants. The piece goes on to note the Italian champions are also keen on signing the Dortmund man, even if Liverpool have stolen a march in regards to a deal.

Here’s a closer look at what the Armenia international would bring to Anfield:

Mkhitaryan has been pretty hit-and-miss since joining Dortmund from Shakhtar Donetsk in the summer of 2013. At times he’s been an effervescent presence off the main striker, linking the play superbly and getting into goalscoring positions. But there have been plenty of occasions when the midfielder has really struggled to get into the game.

However, as noted here by sports journalist Rafael Hernandez, after a difficult 2014-15 season under the tutelage of Jurgen Klopp, new Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel seems to be getting the best out of the player:

Granted it is still early days in Tuchel’s spell, and if a substantial offer were to come in, given the quality Dortmund possess in Mkhitaryan’s position, it would surely be considered. But the Armenian is a player who definitely has something about him, and the new manager will surely want a prolonged look before making a decision on his future.

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He’s not what Liverpool need, anyway. With the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino, Adam Lallana and Lazar Markovic already in situ, there are already a plethora of options in this particular section of the team. The Reds would be better off spending the money elsewhere, regardless of Mkhitaryan’s undeniable talent.

Besiktas to Complete Lucas Leiva Loan

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According to NTV Spor (h/t Eren Sarigul of turkish-football.com) the Besiktas president, Fikret Orman, will travel to Liverpool in order to complete the loan signing of Reds midfielder Lucas Leiva.

The Brazil international has fallen well down the pecking order at Anfield under the tutelage of Brendan Rodgers and looks set to depart the Merseyside outfit after eight years with the club. It’s a deal that the club’s former Liverpool midfielder Jan Molby admitted he found peculiar, per his column in the Liverpool Echo:

"

I'm still a little bit confused as to why we're happy to let Lucas Leiva leave. I'm not suggesting he's the best number six in the world but he's best number six Liverpool have.

If Jordan Henderson misses out against Arsenal, I'd have put the Brazilian in there. It's the manager's call, though, and he clearly believes he can do without Lucas who, at this stage of his career, really needs to be playing games regularly.

"

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Despite being much maligned in the early stages of his Liverpool career, Leiva has blossomed into something of a cult hero at Anfield. Indeed, the midfielder was never one to shirk a tackle, nor was he a player who was happy to shirk responsibility in tough times. But it seems as though his time on Merseyside is finally up.

As we can see here courtesy of OptaCan, Leiva is a player who will add a steely side to the Besiktas midfield should he join:

It’ll be galling for the Reds to see such a popular player leave, but perhaps more importantly, his departure would see Rodgers without any genuine holding midfield players left in the squad. It’s a vital area of the team to address if Liverpool are to push for a Champions League spot, and as such, it’ll be intriguing to see if the club moves for a replacement before the window shuts.