LIVERPOOL have moved to stave off interest in Lucas by opening talks with the Brazilian over a new contract.

Lucas has emerged as an integral figure in recent weeks while forging an impressive central midfield partnership with Raul Meireles, and was man of the match in Monday's 3-0 Premier League win over Aston Villa.

Such form has not gone unnoticed, particularly in his homeland where Santos are reportedly preparing a January bid for the player.

Having arrived from Brazilian side Gremio for £6million in July 2007, Lucas has long polarised opinion among supporters and was widely expected to leave in the summer following the departure of the man who brought him to the club, Rafael Benitez.

But the 23-year-old has instead blossomed under the Spaniard's replacement Roy Hodgson, who revealed yesterday that Damien Comolli, Liverpool's director of football strategy, has made securing the player’s long-term future a priority.

“I think there are plans to give Lucas a new deal,” said the Liverpool manager. “Damien mentioned to me about getting in touch with his agent to get a new contract sorted out.

“Certainly if you ask me the question 'is Lucas welcome at the club and would we like to keep him?' then the answer is a resounding yes.”

Lucas will have another chance to impress alongside Meireles at Newcastle United tomorrow, with the game ruled too soon for Steven Gerrard to return.

The Liverpool skipper has missed the last four games after suffering a hamstring injury while on international duty with England last month.

Reports yesterday suggested Gerrard would be available for the trip to St James Park – where he has scored four times in his last four visits – but, with the club's medical staff refusing to rush the 30-year-old's return, a comeback at home to Fulham next Saturday is more likely.

“He is making very good progress,” said Hodgson, who expects to have Fernando Torres available tomorrow after the striker was absent on Monday while attending the birth of his second child.

“We are very happy (with his recovery) and he is absolutely on schedule, but Newcastle was an unrealistic target.

“It would have been much too early to consider him.

“We have always been thinking he would be fit to face Fulham.”

Also hoping to return to action next week is Daniel Agger, who has been missing since September with a calf problem.

“Agger is much better and working very, very hard,” said Hodgson.

“He's really pushing himself beyond what we could expect him to do. His attitude to getting back is first class.

“We're targeting the Fulham game. The Sports Science people are telling me it's too soon and that really he needs a bit longer, but in my conversations with him he is in agreement that Fulham isn't out of the question so he's pushing it.”

Hodgson, meanwhile, has dismissed suggestions Liverpool are contemplating moves for either Uruguay and Ajax striker Luis Suarez or AC Milan's Brazilian World Cup winner Ronaldinho.

However, the Anfield manager was more reserved when addressing rumours of an interest in Aston Villa winger Ashley Young.

“I've got to say, Ronaldinho and Suarez are players we've never even thought about,” said Hodgson.

“I wouldn't have thought there is a manager in the Barclays Premier League who hasn't given Ashley Young a thought at some stage or another.

“But giving a player a thought and thinking he's a good player, and signing him are two vastly different things.

“I could give you quite a long list of players playing in the Barclays Premier League who I admire and think are very, very good.

“But I'm afraid there is no truth in the rumour if you're asking me if any discussions are taking place between Aston Villa and Liverpool.”