LUCAS LEIVA admits he may  be forced to consider a move  away from Liverpool as speculation increases over his Anfield future.

Stoke City are among a  clutch of clubs monitoring the  midfielder’s situation ahead of  the summer transfer window  closing later today.

Lucas was a first-team regular for Liverpool last season  and, in the absence of many  senior players, began pre-season as Roy Hodgson’s first  captain and has since started  six of Liverpool’s seven games  this campaign.

Although Javier Mascherano has departed, the Brazilian has seen his starting place  threatened by the arrival of  central midfield duo Christian  Poulsen and Raul Meireles,  along with a change of tactics  that has seen Steven Gerrard  at times drop into a deeper  role.

Hodgson suggested after  Sunday’s win over West Bromwich Albion that he would not  encourage the sale of any  more of his first-team squad  players during this transfer  window.

But the 23-year-old Lucas,  who joined Liverpool from  Gremio for £6million in July  2007, has not ruled out a departure in the near future if  he falls out of favour.

“I don’t know what the situation is right now,” said the  midfielder. “I’m still playing.  At the moment, I haven’t had  any offers. I don’t know if the  club wants to sell me. I just  have to wait.

“I’m going away with the  national team (on Thursday)  and I can’t say any more than  that. We don’t have any games  so we will be training for a  week in Barcelona. I think it’s  just speculation.

“Of course, at this stage of  my career I need to be playing. I need to be playing and I  want to be playing but I believe that I am doing well. The  manager will choose who  plays. I have a contract and if I  don’t get anything good for me  or for the club, then I will  stay.”

Hodgson has told Lucas he  is part of his plans, and while  totally committed to the Liverpool cause the Brazilian  accepts he will have no option but to leave if put up for  sale.