Barcelona director tracking €30 million-rated Brazilian midfielder, loan move feasible

After Joan Laporta confirmed earlier this week that Barcelona will go for a new midfielder in the January transfer window, speculations about the possible targets are starting to heat up.

Reports suggest that Barça are looking for a physically intense midfielder with experience, and several names from the Premier League have been touted as possible options.

Deco eyeing Fluminense’s Andre

However, as per a fresh report from Joaquim Piera of SPORT, Barcelona sporting director Deco is keeping an eye on the Brazilian market for possible solutions.

As per the update, Deco has spent months observing and gathering information on Andre, the 22-year-old Fluminense midfielder, a Brazil international and Copa Libertadores champion who will play in the final of the Club World Cup final on Friday.

The report states that Andre is one of the names that the Barça sporting department had been monitoring with an eye for the next summer window when they planned on reinforcing the pivot position.

However, with Laporta & co. looking to sign a player on loan in January, it could fuel the Catalan giants’ interest in Andre, who was close to joining Liverpool in the summer.

Move tricky, but feasible

Signing Andre could be a tricky operation, considering that the deal would be for a six-month loan. Fluminense were planning on keeping the midfielder, valued at €30 million, until the summer of 2024 before selling him and must be convinced to loan him out.

The Brazilian outfit would surely ask for compensation that Barça could accept as the player’s salary would be affordable even with the very serious wage margin problems they have.

Deco would play a key role in these negotiations, as he is on very good terms with the Fluminense management. Another point in favour of the sporting director is the good personal relationship he has maintained with Andre’s agent.

Only recently, the Copa Libertadores winner expressed his admiration for Barcelona, stating that he would choose the Blaugrana over Real Madrid if an opportunity presented to join either of the two La Liga giants.

It remains to be seen whether Deco and Barcelona act on the reported interest in Andre in January or look for alternatives.