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Topics: Football, Transfers, Premier League, Southampton, Liverpool, Romeo Lavia
Chris Byfield
Topics: Football, Transfers, Premier League, Southampton, Liverpool, Romeo Lavia
Andre has been linked with Liverpool as an alternative to Southampton’s Romeo Lavia. But who is the Brazilian midfielder?
On Tuesday Southampton rejected Liverpool’s improved bid for Romeo Lavia, with Sky Sports News claiming Jurgen Klopp’s side are also exploring a deal for Fluminense's Andre, if Saints' valuation for their 18-year-old remains high.
Liverpool’s new offer from the Merseysiders was reportedly still below an initial £40million, with Southampton wanting £50million for the Belgian.
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While the total package is closer to the asking price, if a compromise cannot be reached, Liverpool are considering alternative options, which include Andre.
So who is Andre?
Who is Fluminense's Andre?
Andre is a right-footed defensive midfielder who grew up idolising the notoriously combative Felipe Melo.
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However, unlike his idol, the 22-year-old is very much the embodiment of a modern midfielder. Standing at just 5’7, the Brazilian is an effective ball carrier, good at progressing the play into the final third.
Because of his technical ability, the Fluminense star often waltzes into the attacking third, having completed 1.7 progressive take-ons per 90 minutes in the last year. Indeed, at youth level Andre was even a striker, netting some seven goals in eight games in the local Bom Jesus da Lapa tournament.
Nevertheless, Andre is not a playmaker or a creative focal point for his team. While he consistently registers a high pass completion rate these are often low-risk sideways passes, designed to provide tempo to his side, rather than creativity.
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A per Fbref, Andre has completed 93.2 per cent of his passes per 90 minutes across the last 365 days.
Of course, as a defensive midfielder, Andre is also a proficient tackler, excellent at staying on his feet in 1vs1 scenarios and blessed with a good recovery speed.
Nevertheless, the one-cap Brazil international has only recorded two tackles per game in the last year, as well as 1.27 interceptions in that time.
Liverpool may have the advantage in any move for the player, given he is represented by Jorge Mendes, whose agency also represents Liverpool duo Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota.