Time's running out on Gremio

Reports out of Brazil are that Gremio is willing to offer 3.5mm and their young promise Jhonatan to Benfica for Diego Souza's pass. As you may recall Gremio has been struggling to come up with the 4mm Benfica is asking for, even going as far as taking on a investment partner who is "shelling" out 3mm of the 3.5mm offer. Benfica has not budged with their figure and Gremio has tried everything possible. The head of Benfica's prospection, Rui Aguas, observed Gremio's Junior team not too long ago and Jhonatan and Wagner were the players that were made note of. Jhonatan is an 18 year old forward that was part of the senior team towards the end of the season for Gremio, he is also part of Brazil's u-18 National team, and is one of the most promising players coming out of Gremio's feeder system.

Benfica is obviously counting on this money for January. It's a shame, i'd really to see Diego Souza come to Benfica, Benfica only has to gain with his return. For one he has become a more mature player and is very far from the player who was once part of Benfica's squad, on a more farsighted observation, this player will most likely be the captain for Brazil's Olympic team in this summers Olympics, just think of how much he is going to go up in value if he has a great tournament. Even if he doesn't have a good summer tournament, there are plenty of teams in Brazil that want him. Benfica can use a player like Diego in their squad, the thing is that they will need to give Gremio every chance to acquire the player, if they want to keep the player. It's a waiting game until Wednesday.

Read the news article by expanding the whole post.

From Globoesporte.com
Clube oferece Jhonatan por Diego Souza
Atacante de 18 anos serviria como parte do pagamento para compra do volante ao Benfica

Destaque das categorias de base, o atacante Jonathan, de 18 anos, deve ajudar a manter Diego Souza no Olímpico. A direção do Grêmio concordou em ceder o jogador ao Benfica como parte do pagamento dos € 4 milhões (cerca de R$ 10,2 milhões) exigidos pelo clube português pelos direitos federativos do volante.

A resposta do Benfica à proposta gremista é esperada para quarta-feira, dia 2. O Grêmio teria oferecido o atacante Jonathan e mais € 3,5 milhões (R$ 9,1 milhões). Deste montante, € 3 milhões (R$ 7,8 milhões) viriam dos cofres da empresa que se propôs a fazer uma parceria com o clube, com o objetivo de lucrar com uma futura venda de Diego Souza.

O Benfica manifestou interesse em dois jogadores das categorias de base do Grêmio. Além de Jonathan, o zagueiro Wagner também interessa aos portugueses. Ambos foram observados de perto pelo olheiro Rui Águas, em dois jogos do Grêmio na Copa Paulo Rogério Amoretty. Mas o Grêmio só concorda em ceder um jogador.