• Serie A club have inquired about Brazilian midfielder • Lucas has started only three league games this season

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Liverpool are prepared to let Lucas Leiva join Internazionale on loan for the rest of the season. The Brazilian has started only three Premier League games this season and made 11 appearances in all competitions.

Transfer window January 2017: all the latest moves and news – interactive Read more

Inter are looking to sign a midfielder in January and have asked Liverpool whether they would consider letting Lucas leave on a short-term basis and have been told that the Merseyside club would not stand in his way should he wish to move to Italy on loan.

The 29-year-old Lucas is Inter’s preferred choice but Lass Diarra (Marseille), John Obi Mikel (Chelsea), Milan Badelj (Fiorentina) and Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg) are other options.

Lucas has been at Liverpool since 2007 but has had limited playing time under Jürgen Klopp. Joël Matip and Dejan Lovren are first choice in central defence and the German manager has plenty of options in central midfield with Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum, Adam Lallana, Emre Can, Kevin Stewart and Marko Grujic all capable of playing in that position.

Inter are seventh in Serie A and their form has improved dramatically since Stefano Piolo took over from Frank de Boer at the beginning of November.