Liverpool Transfer News: Latest Jese Rodriguez and Lucas Leiva Rumours

Liverpool could encounter major competition in their bid to sign Real Madrid winger Jese Rodriguez after Paris Saint-Germain boss Unai Emery admitted his interest in the player. Meanwhile, Lucas Leiva is edging closer to the Anfield exit.

Jese has found it difficult to crack Real's starting XI during his time at the club, and Emery confirmed his admiration for the player when addressing the media this week, per Metro's Coral Barry: "It’s a possibility, as are other opportunities in the transfer window. I know Jese well, the club knows Jese well, he is a good player."

Michel Euler/Associated Press

According to Barry, Real manager Zinedine Zidane has told Jese "he is free to leave" the club before the summer transfer window closes, and Liverpool have been linked as an interested party.

This news falls just after Liverpool writer Dave O'Connell sourced Get French Football News, which reported a move to Anfield was actually a "priority" for Jese, who started just seven times in La Liga last season:

Manager Jürgen Klopp has already been busy in adding to his squad this summer, with new arrivals Sadio Mane and Georginio Wijnaldum both capable of lining up on the flanks if required.

However, the opportunity to sign Jese, 23, could be one the club can't pass up, and WhoScored.com suggested the player perhaps has deserved a bigger shot at the Bernabeu:

Jese joined Real's academy as a 14-year-old in 2007, but the former Spain under-21 star has consistently laboured to unearth any kind of prominence with Los Merengues and could still find success elsewhere.

Meanwhile, midfielder Lucas is understood to be on the verge of an Anfield exit after Turkish newspaper Milliyet reported Galatasaray are "due to conclude a deal" to sign the Brazilian (h/t Jack Staplehurst of the Express).

Alberto Saiz/Associated Press

Injuries have severely stunted Lucas' progress in recent years, and the midfielder spent the bulk of last season backing up the likes of Jordan Henderson, Emre Can, James Milner and Joe Allen.

What's more, Galatasaray manager Jan Olde Riekerink has previously been quoted by the club's official Twitter account and confirmed Lucas is in their sights:

Still just 29 years of age, Lucas could make for a valuable pickup if he is able to come upon a sustained period of fitness, which has just proven too rare during his stay on Merseyside of late.

Serbian starlet Marko Grujic was also added to Klopp's midfield medley this summer, meaning Lucas looks to be even further from landing a first-team place if he were to remain with Liverpool.