According to SSN Lucas asked for a permission to part his ways with the club and move to Spain or Italy, even London would be his preferable option. His family and delightful bird can't settle and that's why he handed in a transfer request, but it's yet to be confirmed. Thanks to Neill Jones and Rory Smith we know, that some French club (probably Marseille because of problems with M'Bia) might have sniffed - perhaps swap for Ben Arfa, as we're hijacking the deal according to some pages?