The Brazilian media is still in the dark regarding Liverpool’s surprising interest in Grêmio forward Luan.
As was much covered in England over the weekend, Liverpool would reportedly be close to agreeing a £26m deal for the player.
But the big outlets in Brazil seem to have zero information regarding the transfer, and none of them are jumping the gun to go against what the official sources are saying.
Starting from Saturday, when Luan’s agent Jair Peixoto spoke to Fox Sports (via O Globo), he said: “It’s a lie, there was no bid. We talked to several clubs in England, but no bid came. He stays in Gremio normally, he was not offered either by me or by Grêmio. I’m telling you because yesterday I had a meeting there at Grêmio.”
Then he was interviewed by local outlet Zero Hora on Sunday morning, and despite confirming the talks with Liverpool, he kept the same line regarding a bid: “We talked to Liverpool, yes, like we talk to other clubs, but there was no bid.”
An interesting tangent is Zero Hora claim that Liverpool officials have spoken to the English journalist Tim Vickery to get more information on the player. Vickery himself gave an interview to Rádio Gaúcha to give his opinion on the player, saying Luan has changed a lot since last year, and he’s ‘No Neymar’ since he changed his dribbling style and is now a passing player.
After Grêmio beat Botafogo last night, president Romildo Bolzan Junior has spoken once again, and revealed the club are actually working to renew Luan’s contract.
“If there’s any business, it’s in the window, but we have no bid from Luan,” he said (via Globo Esporte). “And we’re advancing a lot on his renewal. We have not made it, but we have made progress on several points.”
Zero Hora covered a little more from the press conference: “Luan is a player who they say would have three offers. So far, none have come. Except for one, about three years ago, when he was on another level. We have no information, no official offer. We have absolutely no concrete bid.”
The only person who seems to be really claiming the deal is close to being done is Luis Felipe Amorim. Still on Saturday, the journalism student who works for a local radio station said the bid was accepted, but the personal terms are still to be agreed. He claims Luan wants to leave now, but Grêmio want to keep him until they’re knocked out of Copa Libertadores.
