Report: Newcastle entered negotiations with Gremio’s Luan but failed to agree deal

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Gremio midfielder Luan did hold talks with Newcastle United in the January transfer window but will not be moving to the Premier League.

It is not often Ronaldinho recommends a player to Barcelona so it is fair to say Luan is quite the talent.

The reigning 2017 South American Player of the Year is arguably the finest footballer in Brazilian football right now – though it appears that he won’t be getting his big break in Europe any time soon.

Premier League duo Newcastle United and Liverpool were offered the chance to sign the attacking midfielder from Gremio last month, as reported by The Mail.

And while Newcastle fans will surely have laughed off the prospect of owner Mike Ashley paying £17.5 million for one player, it seems the Magpies were not too far away from striking a deal for the Brazil international.

According to UOL, Newcastle had held talks with Luan a few days before the end of the transfer window, albeit offering only to loan him until the summer with an obligatory purchase clause set for the end of the season.

It is understood, however, that the Tyneside giants could not reach a personal agreement with Luan, who inspired Gremio to the Copa Libertadores title last season with eight goals in just 12 games.

So Newcastle’s chances of breaking their transfer record for a player with such supreme natural talents as Luan passed them by.

Blessed with creativity, vision and an eye for goal, there is no doubt that he would have immediately enhanced Rafa Benitez’s rather workmanlike squad but Newcastle will be forced to rely on Ayoze Perez and co instead for the next few months.