Liverpool Weigh Up £20m Brazilian Target

Liverpool are set to battle Chelsea and Inter Milan for the signature of highly-rated Brazilian teenager Lucas Rodrigues, according to reports.

Lucas, 19, has attracted attention from a number of top European clubs after a series of impressive displays for Sao Paulo this season.

Reports over the weekend suggest Liverpool are weighing up a £15m bid for the attacking midfielder in January, after The Sun revealed the player is learning English ahead of a possible move to the Premier League.

"Chelsea, Inter Milan and Liverpool have demanded details from me and Sao Paulo knows the situation," his agent Wagner Riberio said.

"At the moment they are not interested. Perhaps in the summer they may negotiate but only an enormous offer could change things as I want continuity for the player for a couple of years."

Lucas, who was named player of the tournament at this summer's South American Under-20 Championships, is currently brushing up on his language skills ahead of a potential move.

"Three days a week I study for one hour with a teacher," he is quoted in The Sun. "I'm prepared to move to Europe and it always good to get on top of the language.

"I haven't decided what I'm doing. For now I'm concentrating on Sao Paulo."

Earlier in November, a Sao Paulo source told talkSPORT that Liverpool would have to submit a substantial offer for the Brazilian international.

"Our idea is not to sell and definitely not in January. We would only be willing to let him go if an irresistible offer comes in."