Fulham have offered £30 million for the Fluminense defensive midfielder André as they prepare for the possibility of losing João Palhinha this summer.
Signing André would be a significant statement by Fulham as he was linked with Liverpool and Manchester United last year. The fast and mobile 22-year-old has a reputation for making a high number of interceptions and recoveries without going to ground.
He may be seen as a potential replacement for Palhinha, who was the subject of a rejected £40 million offer from West Ham United last summer. Other clubs, including Arsenal, were also interested in the Portugal midfielder but a summer move never materialised after he suffered a significant shoulder injury on Fulham’s pre-season tour to the United States.
It was during that tour that Marco Silva, the Fulham manager, turned down the chance to manage in Saudi Arabia. Silva went on to sign a new contract in October until 2025, with the expectation that he would be able to strengthen the squad after they stayed in the Premier League last season.
That may mean that Fulham plan to keep Palhinha, but he has been linked to Barcelona and Bayern Munich this month and could yet leave Craven Cottage at the end of the season. Palhinha was in Munich on the final day of the summer transfer window last year but the deal collapsed because Fulham could not sign a replacement.
Alistair Mackintosh, the Fulham chief executive, had talks about a deal for André after visiting the Maracanã stadium to watch the Brazil midfielder lead Fluminense to victory over Boca Juniors in the final of the Copa Libertadores in November.
André, who began his career as a forward, was included in the 55-man preliminary squad of Brazil for the 2022 World Cup. He made his debut in a friendly against Senegal in June and has won four caps.
Kalvin Phillips is another midfielder who may be on the move this month and David Moyes, the West Ham manager, is keen to sign the 28-year-old on loan, although Manchester City are asking for about £10 million including wages. Moyes is also trying to sign a striker so that he can offload Danny Ings, who earns £100,000 a week.
Phillips appears likely to leave in the hope of regular minutes to try to force his way into the England squad for Euro 2024, and while interest from Juventus seems to have receded, Newcastle have not given up their pursuit.
Eddie Howe is still eager to add to his depleted Newcastle squad during the transfer window, despite the limitations the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules have placed on the club’s spending power, and the club remain keen to back him in the market.
Howe’s options were further hampered by the news that key midfielder Joelinton needs an operation on a thigh and is likely to miss the rest of the season. The 27-year-old is yet to agree a new deal at Newcastle, with his existing contract set to end next summer. Joelinton, who earns about £50,000 a week, wants parity with the club’s top earners such as Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier.
Newcastle have said publicly they are hamstrung by the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules and have been careful not to pay excessive wages since they were taken over by Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund. Club chief executive officer Darren Eales said last week that they will have to begin selling players in order to comply with PSR.
There remains a desire for the Brazilian to stay at St James’ Park at boardroom level and Joelinton told the Times last month: “There have been talks [about a new deal], there’s nothing close yet but there’s been conversation and it’s a good start.”
Howe hopes to have Callum Wilson back for the club’s next Premier League game, against Aston Villa on January 30, and Jacob Murphy is also moving closer to a return. Tino Livramento, who missed their loss to City on Saturday, their fourth successive defeat, because of flu, will also be available. The central midfield area remains a concern, however, with only Sean Longstaff, the 17-year-old Lewis Miley and Bruno Guimarães, who is one booking away from a two-game suspension, fit and available in that position.
Newcastle are set to announce a series of sponsorship deals in the forthcoming weeks that will further boost a turnover that has risen to £250 million since the club were taken over by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund in October 2021.
That will further help Howe in the transfer market. Newcastle have spent £400 million on players since he became head coach in November 2021 and need to sell players to unlock some of their own spending power.
Next year’s accounts will show the finance impact of playing Champions League football, a new front of shirt sponsorship deal with Sela and the new kit deal with Adidas. The Champions League alone has earned the club more than £37 million.
Newcastle are thought to be considering returning to the red and blue hooped away shirt also manufactured by Adidas which they wore during the 1995-96 season, when they came close to winning the Premier League title.
