£34M Star Inches Closer to Anfield with Terms Already Agreed

Liverpool's recruitment team has been busy since the end of the summer transfer window and their next signing may already be known.

One particular player who has caught the Merseyside club’s attention is Fluminense's Andre.

The Brazilian has impressed his club this season, notably during Fluminense's Copa Libertadores campaign.

After beating Internacional 2-1 on Wednesday, they booked their place in the final with a 4-3 aggregate score. The final is slated for 21 October.

A strong, resilient player, Andre demonstrated his prowess across the midfield, thereby stirring further interest from the Anfield outfit.

What's the latest on Liverpool's interest in Andre?

According to 90min, Liverpool scouts attended the match and kept a close eye on Andre.

The midfielder has been the subject of Liverpool interest since before the summer transfer window but they will have to wait to sign him until January.

The Reds have already agreed personal terms with Andre but were told months ago that he will only be able to move to Merseyside once the Brazilian season comes to a close.

In June, Fluminense president Mario Bittencourt publicly announced Andre would not be for sale in the summer.

“We are not going to deceive anyone, we have to make sales, but I can say that it will not be Andre,” Bittencourt said. “We are not going to sell Andre in the middle of the year.

"We even negotiated his renewal. Angioni, our director of football, is negotiating with his representatives. We have no proposals, no inquiries for any player. But the player who can be sold will not be Andre."

How does Andre fit into Jurgen Klopp's plans?

Liverpool strengthened their lines in the summer with the signing of talents such as Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, and Wataru Endo.

The general consensus is that the Reds need a rock-solid defensive midfielder to balance out their current team, which has an overload of no.8s.

Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Brighton is a good example of this - despite Mac Allister's obvious technical strengths, he is not a no.6.

In that context, a player like Andre would be an ideal addition. His tenacity, precision and ability to break up play effectively is exactly what the current Liverpool set-up needs.

He is adept at gaining possession and maintaining it, attributes put on full display throughout the Copa Libertadores semi-final tie.

Combining with new signings like Mac Allister and Szoboszlai, the Brazilian could form a strong midfield trio.

Szobo, with his excellent work rate and tactical acumen, would provide the necessary attacking and defensive support on the pitch.

Simultaneously, Mac Allister with his creativity, would be able to find his most comfortable role in the engine room.

When that happens, Liverpool's attacking play will improve even more.

Andre could also pair nicely with emerging talent, Ryan Gravenberch. The versatile Dutchman is known for his box-to-box capabilities, which would complement Andre's more defensively oriented style. They could coordinate well in defensive transitions.

How much will signing Andre cost Liverpool?

Of course, any move for Andre would require striking a deal with Fluminense, and with the player's current form, they may not be so keen to part ways with him cheaply.

According to a report from Brazilian outlet Netflu from early September, Andre has a £34 million (€40m) release clause which the Reds can trigger.

However, the appeal of playing at a club like Liverpool, under Jurgen Klopp, could potentially make a difference.

The Liverpool scouting team will likely continue to keep a close eye on the Brazilian talent, especially during the upcoming Copa Libertadores final.

For more updates, Anfield Central has you covered.