Brazilian wonderkid confirms Liverpool January transfer story

Stuart Telford

• 29 Oct 2023 11:50 GMT
• 3 min read

Brazilian star André has confirmed reports that a 'big European club' - understood to be Liverpool - tried to sign him the recent summer transfer window.

Liverpool worked hard to bolster their midfield this summer after missing out to Real Madrid for Jude Bellingham, with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai signed from Brighton and RB Leipzig respectively.

With Jordan Henderson and Fabinho both leaving for the Saudi Pro League, the Reds' midfield has had a different look to it this season, but is has begun to click with Jurgen Klopp's side up to fourth in the table.

READ: Why Liverpool must beat Arsenal in the race to sign Fluminense's André

The Reds were linked with a host of other midfielders, and reportedly offered Fluminense €30 million for André's services.

"There's a lot of things in the last window I didn't talk about," he told the Copa Libertadores' official channel. "It was really [an offer] I couldn't refuse, the club, the league…

André turned Liverpool down

"[But] during the European summer window, we were in the Copa Libertadores last 16. I decided to keep my word and stay."

READ: Liverpool wages: How much does each player earn?

That decision has worked out so far, with Fluminense making it into the Libertadores final against Boca Juniors and André making his first competitive appearances for Brazil in the recent 1-1 draw with Venezuela.

"In January [Fluminense manager Fernando Diniz] told me that, 100 per cent sure, if I stayed, I'd play, and my value would grow, and I didn't have to think about it," André continued.

Liverpool are expected to go back in for the 22-year-old - who already has 160 appearances for Fluminense in all competitions under his belt - but his asking price will have risen well above the €9.7m he is valued at by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm by then.

Arsenal and Fulham have also been credited with an interest in the defensive midfielder.