EXCLUSIVE: Fulham suffer Andre setback but deal not dead

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 2 Jan 2024 19:41 GMT
• 3 min read

Exclusive

Fulham’s deal with Andre looks to be at a stalemate with the club now believing that, by keeping Joao Palhinha, a new addition to that position is unnecessary, FootballTransfers can reveal.

The West London club have done a lot of legwork and a deal in principle had been agreed between them and the player’s side, but we are told that Fulham are now reluctant to meet Fluminense’s £25 million asking price for the 22-year-old.

Andre had spoken with Fulham boss Marco Silva and was encouraged by the project presented, while Alistair Mackintosh, the club's CEO, also held talks, but the transfer has taken a step backward after the Cottagers reshuffled their priorities in the market, with the idea that Joao Palhinha remaining would be sufficient enough for the rest of the season.

As previously revealed, the midfielder looks set to remain at Craven Cottage until the summer at least, with Bayern Munich not willing to meet Fulham’s asking price and clubs in the Premier League hamstrung by Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. A move away for Sasa Lukic, who is available for a loan deal, may not be even enough to push a deal Andre as the Serbian has played just 385 minutes of Premier League football so far this season.

Are Man Utd keen on Andre?

Manchester United remain admirers of Andre but any move would be dependent on shifting players such as Casemiro and Antony Martial this month, making a deal pretty unfeasible at this point.

Andre is still expected to make a move to the Premier League this window and there is interest there, but currently unused players will have to be moved on to seal his signature.

The Brazil international has his heart set on a switch to England following his stunning season for Fluminense, in which the club won their first-ever Copa Libertadores after beating Boca Juniors in the final. It remains probable that a move will occur but anything materialising early in the window is unlikely now.