Liverpool set to keep Lucas after impressing against Arsenal

BESIKTAS president Fikret Orman claims Liverpool are not selling Lucas Leiva.

STAYING PUT: Lucas is going nowhere

The 28-year-old Brazilian was expected to leave Anfield after being left out of manager Brendan Rodgers' squad for the first two league games of the season.

Besiktas had been hunting midfield reinforcements after losing Tolgay Arslan and Veli Kavlak to injury.

But their pursuit of Lucas has failed after he returned to the starting line-up for Monday's goalless draw with Arsenal and now looks set to stay.

Oman said: "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."

Rodgers hailed Lucas for his display against the Gunners and said: "Lucas is our best defensive midfield player.

"There are games where I play three midfield players but not always with a defensive specific one, but when we do need that, he is the best one we have," the manager added.

"He's certainly very important to what we want to do."