Tottenham and Newcastle miss out, player agrees £12m move to PL rivals

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Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United have made approaches for Gremio youngster Vanderson but, according to UOL, the Brazilian is expected to join Premier League rivals Brentford in a possible £12 million deal.

In the space of two years, Spurs have gone from the Champions League final to losing away from home against a Slovenian side no one had heard of before this season in the UEFA Conference League group-stages.

But, hey, it could be worse. Spare a thought for Gremio.

Copa Libertadores champions in 2017, Gremio were condemned to relegation last week. From officially the best team in the whole of South America to the second-tier in the blink of an eye.

Why is Vanderson joining Brentford?

UOL reports that Vanderson, Gremio’s 20-year-old wonderkid, is now destined to depart with a trio of Premier League clubs – plus a host of sides on the continent – showing an interest.

Antonio Conte’s Tottenham are keen.

Saudi-backed Newcastle also made an approach of their own, potentially viewing the technically-gifted, highly-rated Vanderson as an upgrade on the rather limited Emil Krafth and Javi Manquillo at right-back.

Newcastle are rumoured to be taking a leaf out of the RB Leipzig playbook rather than becoming England’s answer to the Galacticos, with talented, up-and-coming youngsters like Vanderson – rather than overpaid, underperforming big hitters a la Philippe Coutinho – expected to become the posterboys of a bold new era at St James’ Park.

Well, we say up-and-coming youngsters ‘like’ Vanderson. But not the man himself.

Because Vanderson, it seems, is on his way to London rather than Tyneside.

Goal claim that Brentford have had a bid accepted for Vanderson, with UOL adding that Thomas Frank’s Bees could pay up to £12 million.

That will make Vanderson the second-biggest signing in Brentford’s history, after former Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer.

Vanderson is not the only Gremio starlet linked with a move to Britain. Celtic have held talks over a £3.3 million deal for midfielder Fernando Henrique. However, the Hoops now appear to be prioritising Japan international Yosuke Ideguchi instead.