Liverpool Transfer News: Lucas Leiva Sale Blocked After Asier Illarramendi Snub

Lucas Leiva won't be leaving Liverpool during the summer transfer window after all, as Turkish club Besiktas confirmed on Wednesday that the Reds turned down their approach.

The news follows on the same day that reported transfer target Asier Illarramendi completed his move back to Real Sociedad, per Real Madrid's official Twitter account.

Leiva was widely expected to leave the club this summer but impressed on Monday against Arsenal, filling in for the injured Jordan Henderson.

According to Besiktas president Fikret Orman, the deal is now as good as dead, via the Liverpool Echo's James Pearce: “Liverpool do not want him to go. The transfer can only go ahead with their say so there is nothing we can do right now.”

According to Pearce, Besiktas believed they were on the verge of sealing a one-year loan deal for the Brazilian before Henderson got injured.

Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images

The 28-year-old has been with Liverpool since 2007 but has seen his playing time steadily decrease after a promising start to his Anfield career. Last year, he appeared in just 16 Premier League matches, per WhoScored.com.

Remarkably enough, he performed more than admirably when he was finally given his chance, and with the holding midfielder back into the starting XI, the Reds' performances and results improved greatly after an inconsistent start.

Injury forced him out of the starting XI, and going into the 2015-16 campaign, he once again looks set to play a minimal role.

Leiva always seems to perform well whenever he's called upon, but for some reason, he has to prove himself and wait for his chances every single year.

The Arsenal match was yet another example, via the Times' Rory Smith:

The decision to keep Leiva at the club for now has to be considered a smart one. The Brazilian is an experienced, veteran Premier League contributor who has proven time and time again that he can be a productive option—both as a starter and off the bench.

In a competition as physically demanding as the Premier League, and with two domestic cups and the UEFA Europa League on the schedule, having solid depth can be the difference between a good season in which the club challenges for silverware and a bad season in which the Reds hope they can finish in the top six.

Selling Leiva and receiving a decent fee in return would be one thing, but sending him out on loan would make little sense.

The midfielder still has a role to play for the Reds in 2015-16, and keeping him at Anfield is a decision manager Brendan Rodgers will probably look back on as one of the best of the summer.

Illarramendi would have made for an excellent alternative, and the 25-year-old perhaps has a little more upside than Leiva, but the Brazilian has Premier League experience on his side and is a better defender, whereas the Spaniard shines more in the passing game.

Liverpool have plenty of creative outlets―Leiva brings a physical dimension Illarramendi can't provide.

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