Rafa Set To Swoop Lucas For Inter

Rafa Benitez is ready to renew
his interest taking Liverpool
midfielder Lucas Leiva to Inter
Milan.
The former Reds boss has asked
for reinforcements in the January
transfer window, but San Siro
president Massimo Moratti does
not want to bankroll any big-
money deals until the end of the
season.
Inter made enquiries about
Lucas in the closing days of
summer transfer window but
attempts to strike an initial loan
deal were immediately batted
away by the cash-strapped
Anfield hierarchy.

The Italians are keen to try again
and the Corriere dello Sport
newspaper says a swap deal
with Sulley Muntari could be the
way to break the deadlock.
Benitez has fallen out with
former Portsmouth midfielder
Muntari, who has been linked
with Tottenham as well as
Liverpool.
Lucas started the season
alongside Steven Gerrard in
midfield, but boss Roy Hodgson
has tried other partnerships and
the Brazilian fears a first-team
place is far from guaranteed.
The 23-year-old may find life just
as difficult in Italy, especially as
the Serie A champions are
already plotting a more
impressive signing next summer.
Bastian Schweinsteiger has long
been linked with Inter, but
Benitez would prefer to team up
once more with former Liverpool
midfielder Xabi Alonso, who will
be in the last year of his Real
Madrid contract at the end of this
season.