Rafa goes for Lucas

RAFA BENITEZ is lining up a reunion with Lucas at Newcastle.

The Toon boss wants the Brazilian midfielder he brought to Liverpool in 2007 to join his Tyneside Rafalution.

Lucas, 30, is out of contract at Anfield, with Inter Milan, Celtic and Brighton also keen to sign him.

But Benitez is confident his long-standing relationship with Lucas will help pave the way for a move to the north east.

He has been in touch with his old club to register the Toon’s interest in the £65,000-aweek star.

Lucas has made almost 350 appearances for the Reds and is their longest-serving player, but he has been told by boss Jurgen Klopp he can find another club after a decade on Merseyside.

Newcastle are ready to offer a lucrative two-year deal, with an option of a third, to a man who has won 24 Brazil caps.

Benitez is weighing up other midfield options ahead of Newcastle’s Premier League return.

And he is considering an improved offer for Fulham’s Tom Cairney after he failed with a £10m bid for the Scotland midfielder in January.