Report: Liverpool accepts Lazio's £5M bid for Leiva

Lucas Leiva's decade-long association with Liverpool is reportedly about to end.

The Reds accepted a £5-million bid from Lazio on Friday for the 30-year-old, according to the Guardian's Andy Hunter and Dominic Fifield, paving the way for a permanent transfer to Italy.

The Brazilian is considered a like-for-like replacement for Lazio's outbound midfielder and captain, Lucas Biglia, who has an agreement in place to join AC Milan.

Making nearly 350 appearances for Liverpool since arriving from Gremio in 2007, Leiva has earned immense respect from supporters on Merseyside. The club celebrated his 10 years of service with an anniversary dinner in April.

With just 12 months remaining on his contract, however, Leiva received permission to discuss terms with Lazio.

The move would give Leiva a chance to play on a regular basis. He made just 12 Premier League starts last season - the joint-fewest in his Liverpool career.