Benfica have rejected a £53 million bid for Liverpool linked striker Carlos Vinicius, Eagles president Luis Felipe Vieira has told JN.
Speaking on Tuesday night, Porto owner Pinto da Costa admitted to Record that a financial crisis of unprecedented proportions ruined his side’s hopes of raising around £150 million in player sales (Record).
Even the biggest clubs in Europe are expected to keep the spending to a minimum this summer and that, as Costa’s comments explain, will hit the Portuguese market hard.
After all, Porto, Benfica and Sporting Lisbon are selling clubs and proud of it.
Their philosophy revolves around signing young and cheap before selling those very same players on for a substantial profit.
So you’d think that Vinicius, a Brazilian centre-forward in the form of his life, would have one foot out of the door at this stage.
AS claims that Liverpool had identified the former Monaco man as an alternative to a man who has redefined what it means to be a ‘false nine’ – Roberto Firmino.
But if the Reds were hoping that they could take advantage of a shrinking market and grab Vinicius on the cheap, they should think again.
“I received an offer of 60m euros (£53 million) for Vinicius and did not sell. He is priced at 100 million,” Vieira says.
With 20 goals in 36 games this season, you can see why Benfica value him so highly.
According to BleacherReport, Wolverhampton Wanderers were very close to signing Vinicius for just £15 million, before the deal was scuppered by work permit problems.
If Wolves are to renew their interest, they will have to find an extra £85 million from somewhere.
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