Liverpool Deny Interest in Replacing Lucas With Dutch Enforcer – Report

Liverpool have rejected interest in replacing injury-stricken Lucas Leiva with AC Milan midfielder Nigel de Jong after the Brazilian international was ruled out for eight weeks with a medial ligament injury.

Lucas is out of the Reds' next nine fixtures including the Merseyside derby against Everton next week, the visit of Arsenal in February and the trip to Manchester United in mid-March; all vital games in the club's attempts to return to the Champions League.

With Joe Allen, Jordan Henderson and captain Steven Gerrard, Liverpool are well stocked in midfield players and though Brendan Rodgers is expected to delve into the transfer market in the remaining days of the January window the boss is unlikely to purchase a direct replacement for the 27 year old.

However, Lucas' injury blow didn't stop reports emerging that the Anfield club were interested in signing De Jong, the Netherlands and Milan midfielder, on a short-term deal.

Having started 18 times for Milan this season De Jong is an integral part of the set up at the San Siro now under new manager Clarence Seedorf and is all-but assured a place in Netherlands' World Cup squad and will travel to Brazil as one of its most experienced members.

But Liverpool have told ESPN they have no plans to launch a bid for the former Manchester City man.

Rodgers continues to work on transfers in January but maintains he will only bring in players that can improve the squad.

"You see across the markets, clubs are just looking and seeing where they can improve," the Liverpool boss said last week. "It's similar to ourselves.

"We've been working over a number of months on possibilities that could strengthen the team. We just need to wait and see how that goes in the next couple of weeks.

"The owners have been great in terms of if there's something there to be done that will help us and improve us, I'm sure they'll support that. It's one where it could be a difficult market to improve in.

"But it certainly won't be for the want of trying. There's a lot of good work going on; we're assessing a whole raft of players. It's just whether they are going to be available for us to bring in now."