Fluminense confirm Andre transfer latest as Fulham eye £25m-rated midfielder

Fluminense president Mario Bittencourt claims Fulham have not followed up on their bid to sign midfielder Andre.

Standard Sport understands the Cottagers are keen on the Brazil international as they attempt to replace Joao Palhinha.

Portugal international Palhinha joined Bayern Munich in a deal worth £47.5m, a year after his initial move to the Bavarian giants broke down.

Andre is a long-standing target at Craven Cottage and was of interest last August, with the west London club understood to have been in regular contact with their Brazilian counterparts last season.

Fluminense are believed to value the 23-year-old at around £25m and Bittencourt insists Fulham have not yet responded to the Brazilian club’s counter-offer made earlier this month.

“There’s no negotiation,” he told Radio Itatiaia.

“There’s a proposal that was made, Fluminense made a counter-proposal and there has been no response to it yet. It’s been about 10 days.

“Fulham are the club that have been looking for Andre since last year, as well as Liverpool. In January they made a new bid. At the moment, what we have is a piece of paper from Fulham with a proposal, and a piece of paper from Fluminense with a counter-proposal. We don’t have an answer yet.”

Fulham are also thought to view Manchester United’s Scott McTominay as a potential option, while they are expected to return with a fresh bid for Arsenal forward Emile Smith Rowe.

The Gunners rejected a £25m offer earlier this week but are open to selling the 23-year-old.