Liverpool ‘open negotiations’ to seal January transfer for Man Utd target as they replace ’emergency solution’
Liverpool are lining up the signing of Fluminense midfielder Andre for the January transfer window, according to reports.
The Reds have completely revamped their midfield this summer with Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all leaving.
While Jurgen Klopp has brought in Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch as replacements for the departed quintet.
And now they could improve their midfield further with the addition of Andre from Brazilian top-flight side Fluminense after rumours of a summer move evaporated last month.
Fluminense president Mario Bittencourt has this week revealed interest from Liverpool and ‘direct contact’ over Andre – who has also been linked to Manchester United – from the Premier League side.
“There is an agreement between us, with the player and representative, that he would stay until the end of the year and they comply fully and with the utmost tranquillity,” Bittencourt told ESPN.
“What they have done is the work as a representative of the athlete that is: all the polling that arrives they communicate to Fluminense.
“In the case of Liverpool, I go even further. Liverpool’s Chief Executive contacted me directly. And I replied to him, ‘My friend, I don’t sell players 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 in December.”
And now Spanish publication Nacional insist that Liverpool are looking to seal a deal ahead of January for the ‘new phenomenon’ that is Andre, who has been capped by Brazil.
Liverpool have apparently ‘opened negotiations’ with Fluminense so that Andre ‘joins for the month of January’ and Klopp’s men have ‘an offer ready’.
A recent report insisted the Reds ‘would not go beyond £30m’ for Andre but Nacional claim that Fluminense are only asking for €20m (£17m) anyway.
30-year-old Endo is described as an ’emergency solution’ by the Spanish newspaper with Liverpool ‘wanting to sign a new star for that position’.
Another new signing, Szoboszlai, has been impressing so far this season with some drawing comparisons between the Hungary international and Steven Gerrrad – but former Liverpool midfielder Paul Ince isn’t having any of it.
Ince told LuckyBlock.com: “If anyone compares Liverpool midfielders to Steven Gerrard, those people need to stay away from the bars and stop drinking! You don’t get players like Steven anymore. There will never be another Stevie G, Patrick Viera, or Roy Keane. Players like that aren’t around anymore.
“Steven had the whole package. He had everything and you can’t compare anyone with him. I played with and against Gerrard and he’s one of the greatest ever players. In my day, you had to play well for decades before being ‘world-class’, nowadays a player has three or four good games and people claim they’re world-class. It doesn’t work like that. Especially not in my eyes.”
