LONDON: Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva has put a summer of transfer speculations behind him and is determined to emerge as a key player for the Premier League club this season.

The longest serving player in the current Liverpool squad, Lucas was linked with a move to Besiktas. “It’s been very intense (the window), to be honest.

I think the last couple of years, every transfer window my name is (linked with a move),” Lucas said. “Of course there are times when you think you might have to move on and I was very close to moving but one thing I will always have is commitment to this club.”