Premier League outfit Fulham are yet to complete a deal for Fluminense midfielder Andre Trindade because the Copa Libertadores winners are asking for a fee in excess of £17.5 million.
That is according to Caio Blois, the reporter taking to Twitter to shed some light on a saga which has rumbled on for much longer than many Fulham supporters would have liked.
TalkSPORT reported on December 18th that The Cottagers had reached an agreement in principle with Andre Trindade. A fortnight later, the wait goes on. As Blois points out, agreeing terms with Andre himself was the easy bit. Convincing Fluminense to cash in for a fee below the £20 million mark, however, is proving to be a much greater challenge.
Fulham still hope to sign Andre Trindade
“There is no agreement between Fulham and Andre. The English team cannot overcome the barrier of 20 million euros for now,” the reporter explains.
Blois goes as far as to suggest that, as things stand, Andre may only become a Fulham player if Joao Palhinha makes way first. Bayern Munich are long-time admirers and may yet return for the Portuguese powerhouse after missing out in dramatic fashion late last summer.
“(Andre will join) only if they negotiate Palhinha, Bayern’s target in the last window,” Blois adds.
The tough-tackling Andre, who was labelled a ‘quality player’ by Pep Guardiola ahead of Man City’s Club World Cup victory over Fluminense last month, has also been linked with the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United. Liverpool expressed their interest in the off-season too.
As things stand, however, Fulham appear to be the only club genuinely pushing to get Andre over the line this month. But, while his talent is not in question, it is far from certain that Andre would be able to fill the considerable void created by Palhinha’s potential departure.
Does Joao Palhinha have to leave first?
“I watch the Premier League and it’s a big dream to play there one day,” Andre told Premier League Brasil after Fluminense beat Al-Ahly of Egypt 2-0 in earlier rounds of the Club World Cup recently.
“I’m focused on finishing the season at Fluminense and realising my dream of winning the Club World Cup. But my dream is clear, to be a Premier League player.”
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