“I spoke with the manager  when in Switzerland and he  told me I was in his plans,”  said Lucas. “I can’t say more  than that. If the club wants  to sell me, I would have to  think and see if it was good  offer for me. But at the moment I am staying, I am trying to do well and giving  100%.

“Do I ideally want to stay?  I can’t say that. If the club  want to sell me, what can I  do? I just have to wait and  see what will happen. But I  want to be playing. I am trying to do my best here.

“If the club have some offers for me, they will let me  know. At the moment I have  no idea.”

Having captured Meireles  for £11.5m at the weekend,  Hodgson is hopeful of confirming two new arrivals before the transfer window  closes at 6pm this evening.

Paul Konchesky’s £3.5m  switch from Fulham will go  through once reserve team  striker Lauri Dalla Valle,  who is set to head in the opposite direction, completes a  medical at Craven Cottage.

And Hodgson’s need for  striking reinforcements has  become more pressing with  David Ngog having picked  up a hamstring injury.

The forward was absent  on Sunday and has pulled  out of the France under-21  squad for the forthcoming  European U21 Championship qualifiers against  Ukraine and Malta.

Hodgson is still mulling  over a possible move for  West Ham United’s Carlton  Cole, while a season-long  loan for Bayern Munich’s  Mario Gomez is another option.

However, that avenue  appeared to close yesterday  when, after being asked  about Liverpool’s interest in  Gomez, Bayern Munich  sporting director Christian  Nerlinger said: “Bayern Munich are not a superstore for  other clubs to come and help  themselves to players.

“No player will be leaving and they will certainly not be leaving on loan.”