Klopp suffers blow after top transfer target confirms he will NOT join Liverpool this summer
Suraj Radia
- 23 Aug 2023 17:51 BST
- 3 min read
Liverpool’s pursuit of Fluminense midfielder Andre is all but over for the time being after the Brazilian broke his silence over his future and insisted he was ‘100% committed’ to his club.
Jurgen Klopp had been eyeing the Andre to solve Liverpool’s woes in midfield following a difficult transfer window but the Reds had seen resistance from Fluminense over a deal.
Fluminense are in the middle of their season and are into the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores, which has led to the Brazilian outfit rejecting all bids for Andre despite receiving a bid of €30 million for their talisman.
NO GO: Reds forced to 'walk away' from top transfer target
Liverpool had been hoping to tempt Andre to force a move but the 22-year-old gave an interview to Brazilian outlet GE Globo where he acknowledged the speculation but reiterated his focus on seeing out the season with Fluminense.
“It is obvious that it is normal to receive proposals. Even more so with the team doing well, passing the stage at Conmebol Libertadores, at the top of the Brasileirão,” he said.
“Not just for me, but it must have gotten to others as well. I am happy for the proposals that arrive, but my mind today is focused 100% on Fluminense.”
Back to the drawing board for Liverpool and Klopp
The decision of Andre to remain at Liverpool comes as a blow to Klopp, who had turned to the player after seeing the club’s pursuits of Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo come to nothing.
Wataru Endo has been brought in for €20m from Stuttgart but Liverpool were still hoping to bring in a more long-term solution to the 30-year-old, who made his debut in the win over Bournemouth.
BACKUP: Endo was Liverpool's 'Plan C' according to former legend
Andre has established himself as one of the stand-out talents in Brazil and recently made his debut for the national side, highlighting why he had caught the attention of Liverpool.
However, having been with Fluminense since the age of 12, the midfielder is seemingly unwilling to turn his back on his boyhood club in the middle of an important campaign, forcing Liverpool to hold off until January for a transfer, by which point the season in Brazil would have finished.
