Bayer Leverkusen hint Lucio for sale at right price

Bayer Leverkusen have hinted that Brazilian defender Lucio is for sale at the right price.

"Lucio is the player who would bring in the most money," commercial manager Reiner Calmund told a news conference on Tuesday. "There has been interest in him at just under 10 million euros.

Leverkusen narrowly avoided relegation last season, after finishing Bundesliga and Champions League runners-up in 2002, and their failure to qualify for European competition could force them to sell a number of players.

"But we are not taking part in a summer sale," added Calmund. "If we were to sell such a player, then we would have to get the right price."

Lucio, part of Brazil's 2002 World Cup-winning squad, is under contract until 2007. He missed nearly five months of last season with a foot injury.

Leverkusen's Croatian defender Boris Zivkovic signed a three-year deal with Portsmouth on Tuesday, the English premier league newcomers announced on their website.