Michael Oliver 
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In order to take Celtic to the next level and become a more competitive force on the European stage, Brendan Rodgers will need to bring some extra quality into the squad to complement the talent he already has at his disposal.
According to the Daily Record, Rodgers is considering a move for Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva, but he faces strong competition from newly-promoted Brighton for his signature.
During Rodgers’ three full seasons as Liverpool manager, he worked closely with Lucas who played a pivotal role in his midfield as the Reds came close to securing their first Premier League title in 2013/14.
When Rodgers was sacked by Liverpool, Lucas lost his regular place in the team and has been viewed as more of a squad player by Jurgen Klopp.
Despite featuring in 30 games this season across all competitions, including appearing in all but one of the last 14 Premier League games, Lucas is set to leave Anfield in the summer when his contract expires, ending a 10-year association with the club after arriving from Gremio in 2007.
The 30-year-old holding midfielder can also operate in defence and is a real favourite of Rodgers’ who will look to add a holding midfielder to the squad with only Scott Brown really equipped to play that role.
Should Celtic be ready to firm up their interest in the Brazilian midfielder, it wouldn’t be a surprise to many to see Rodgers’ close working relationship with Lucas play a major role in the player’s decision.
