Liverpool did make contact to try and sign Fluminense midfielder Andre but the Brazilian side completely refused to sell.
Fluminense told Liverpool to forget about signing midfielder Andre Trindade over the summer but would be open to a January deal.
Fluminense president Mario Bittencourt has been quoted by Lance as saying that Liverpool contacted him to try and set up a deal for Andre.
Bittencourt mentions Liverpool’s ‘chief executive’ but we can only imagine that he means sporting director Jorg Schmadtke rather than CEO Billy Hogan.
Bittencourt claims that there is an agreement that Andre can leave in 2024 but under no circumstances would he be leaving in the summer.
Liverpool still asked the question and were told to either sign Andre for January or start talks in December.
“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 greatest peace of mind. What they did is work as a representative of the athlete that he is: all the surveys that come in they communicate to Fluminense,” said Bittencourt.
“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 and take it in January we can start talking, or if you want to wait until December and we’ll talk in December,” he added.
Why won’t Fluminense sell Andre until January?
This is all down to the Copa Libertadores.
The CONMBEOL’s version of the Champions League runs until November, well beyond the European transfer deadlines.
Fluminense are still involved having beaten Paraguayan side Olimpia in the quarter-finals.
They now face a two-legged affair with Brazilian rivals Internacional, with a spot in the final against Boca Juniors or Palmeiras up for grabs.
Fluminense want Andre to help them win the Copa Libertadores and losing him before the semi-finals just wasn’t going to happen – regardless of who asked for his signature.
Manchester United also keen on Andre
Liverpool have wanted Andre for a long time now; around four years if O Globo in Brazil are on the money.
The Reds did though end the window with four new midfielders signed having landed Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch.
Liverpool may now have different priorities come the January transfer window, potentially shelving their interest in Andre.
The Brazilian is still a wanted man though with Brazilian reporter Emmanuel Luiz claiming in August that Manchester United had asked about him.
Luiz claimed that Andre had agreed terms with Liverpool and United’s interest went no further.
Some reports in Brazil even suggest that West Ham are looking to bring Andre to England.
The route to Liverpool seems a little uncertain now, but the Reds may yet end up facing Andre in the Premier League.
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