Along with Dutch U-21 midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, who joined Liverpool just in time for the transfer deadline, Brazilian midfielder Andre, who plays for Fluminense, was rumored to be a last-minute target.
While the defensive midfielder with an aggressive style of play was said to have wanted to play in Europe, the club denied his release on the back of winning the tournament. An offer of €30 million was reportedly received from Liverpool, but the Brazilian club rejected the proposal.
President Mario Bittencourt explained himself about the speculation surrounding the 22-year-old midfielder circulating in the media, saying that it was true that Liverpool had contacted him, but that no concrete offer had been made, perhaps because he had told them he would not be released this summer.
“The Executive Director of Liverpool contacted me directly. And I replied to him: ‘My friend, I don’t sell a player now and I don’t deliver now. If you want to buy now to take in January, we can start talking, or if you want to wait until December and we talk about December.”
“Saying this firsthand, we didn’t receive a proposal for him. Only surveys for André. He reached € 30 million. We chose not to sell him because we believed that we would reach the final stages of the Libertadores. It was a decision sporting criteria.”
Fluminense is open to sale in the transfer market next January, and if an offer of around €30 million arrives, he will be in the clear and ready for his first challenge in Europe.
However, with the addition of Ryan Gravenberch, the midfield renewal is complete. Thiago Alcantara is set to leave the club next summer, and there is a possibility that he could be brought in to replace him, but Liverpool’s priority at the moment appears to be center back, and it is not clear if they will actually make a move for him.
Will Liverpool turn their attention to the Brazilian midfielder again?