Beşiktaş president Fikret Orman has revealed that the club had reached an agreement worth €4 million over Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva.
Orman stated that Leiva and his partner had already packed their bags but that the deal fell through after Brendan Rodgers changed his mind last minute.
“We had finished the transfer but Brendan Rodgers changed his mind at the last minute,” Orman told the Milliyet.
“Lucas and his partner had their suitcases packed it was all wrapped up.”
Orman did however, underline that in hindsight he is pleased that the transfer stalled as Beşiktaş had planned to sign Lucas as a replacement for Veli Kavlak and Tolgay Arslan who are both out injured until the turn of the year.
Beşiktaş have however, managed to cope well without their two central midfielders and are currently first in the league.
“In hindsight it worked out in our favour, we saved €4 million, Veli is back soon the team is doing really well and it is not like Lucas has been outstanding either,” he added.
Leiva has made six Premier League appearances for the Reds this season and has another two-years left on his contract.
Rodgers has since parted ways with Liverpool and was replaced by former Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp.
Beşiktaş are currently coached by Şenol Güneş and are first in the league two points clear of second placed Galatasaray.
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