Liverpool and Spurs battle for United's £72m Brazilian target - reports

Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are set to go head-to-head for Brazilian midfielder Lucas, amid interest from Manchester United, according to talkSPORT.

The 18-year-old, currently of Sao Paulo, has four international appearances to his name for Brazil, and went to the Copa America with his country this summer.

And his impressive performances have alerted Europe's finest, with Liverpool, United and Tottenham all alerted to Lucas' ability.

On a move to Italy, Lucas said: "I read that I have decided to go to Italy, but that isn't true," he told Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo.

 

"At the moment my thinking is to continue and improve at Sao Paulo because I am young and need more experience before making the leap to Europe, but I haven't yet decided where I will go."

Liverpool and Tottenham's interest is relatively recent, comparing to United, who reportedly considerer him a viable replacement for Paul Scholes.

One thing standing in the way of Liverpool would be the ability to offer Lucas European football, something United, who will play in the Champions League next season, and Tottenham, who will be in the Europa League, could offer.