Benitez signed the Brazilian in 2007 when he was Liverpool boss and it is claimed he remains a ‘huge admirer’ of the player.
But Newcastle still face a challenge to convince Lucas to drop into the Championship.
GETTY
Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez wants Lucas
It is said the 29-year-old is reluctant play in the second tier of English football but Benitez hopes the offer of captaincy could swing the deal.
Liverpool believe a deal between £20-25m should be good enough to convince Newcastle to sell Wijnaldum, who was bought for £14.5m from PSV Eindhoven last summer.
The Reds fly to the United States on Thursday for the start of their pre-season tour and Klopp wants Wijnaldum with the travelling squad.
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