LFC TRANSFER NEWS LIVE : Liverpool’s likely January signing one game away from perfect ending before Reds move

Liverpool were told in no uncertain terms that they were not going to be able to sign Andre in the summer, with Fluminense president Mario Bittencourt telling them they would need to return in January

Brazil midfielder Andre Trindade is closing in on what would be a perfect Fluminense ending, with the 22-year-old a prime target for Liverpool in the January transfer window.

The Reds moved for the defensive midfielder – who picked up his first cap for his country earlier this year – in the summer, but Fluminense rejected the idea of a transfer there and then, stating that they believed their squad had a real chance of picking up the Copa Libertadores, the South American Champions League, this season.

That dream took a step closer on Wednesday night as Andre starred in a 2-1 win for Fluminense away at Brazilian rivals Internacional in the second leg of their semi-final, with two goals in the final nine minutes from forwards John Kennedy and German Cano seeing them dramatically turn around the tie to win 4-3 on aggregate.

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‘Flu’ have never won the Copa Libertadores before, and have now reached the final for the first time since 2008 when they lost to Ecuadorian side Liga de Quito. Former Real Madrid left-back Marcelo, who rejoined the club in February, said after the win: “People outside didn’t believe us, but we did. This is a team of warriors.”

The win further vindicates Fluminense’s decision to keep their squad together, and they will now face either Brazilian rivals Palmeiras or Argentina’s Boca Juniors in the final at the iconic Maracana stadium on November 4. Boca play Palmeiras in the second leg of their semi in the early hours of Friday morning after a goalless first leg in Buenos Aires

Fluminense scored twice in the final nine minutes to reach the Copa Libertadores final(AP)

Liverpool were told in no uncertain terms that they were not going to be able to sign Andre in the summer, with Fluminense president Mario Bittencourt telling them they would need to return in January after the Copa Libertadores campaign.

Speaking last month, Bittencourt told ESPN Brasil : “Liverpool’s Chief Executive [Billy Hogan] contacted me directly. I replied to him: ‘My friend, I don’t sell players now and I don’t deliver them now.

“If you want to buy now, and only get the player in January, we can start talking… Or if you want to wait until December, we can talk in December.”

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