Newcastle United's Gremio's interest in defender Vieri has now extended beyond scouting missions.
the magpies had have already sent a scout To see Vieri earlier this year. Brighton and Benfica also entered the picture laterIn Brazil the Portuguese side was seen as particularly attentive to the situation.
Now, according to journalist Fabio Vargas, Newcastle have formalized their interest.
The development comes amid the rapid rise of Vieri, who started the season on the outside of Grêmio's strongest defensive plans and is now attracting interest from a number of European clubs.
He has become an undisputed starter under manager Luis Castro and has made 25 appearances this season. During that run, he recorded 54 tackles and won 61 aerial duels. In the Brazilian league alone, he averages 6.5 clearances and 3.9 recoveries per game.
Newcastle took the first step
According to a Brazilian journalist Fabio VargasThe Premier League club have made an official offer for the 21-year-old, becoming the first side to make concrete action following weeks of increased attention around the defender.
The Premier League side have submitted an offer of €12m (£10.3m) for the defender, the report states. That bid is well below Grêmio's current demands.
The Brazilian club are seeking between €20m (£17.2m) and €25m (£21.5m) to negotiate the sale of Vieri, despite Release clause is €50m (£43m).
At the beginning of the year, Vieri was primarily seen as a team option. Injuries and inconsistency created space in the team, and he responded strongly enough to become one of Luis Castro's most trusted defenders.
what happens next
Newcastle's offer may not be enough today, but it changes the dynamics around the player.
So far, the story has centered around scouting and interest. An official proposal creates a more concrete market and increases pressure on other clubs following the situation.
For Grêmio, a formal offer strengthens their negotiating position and supports the high valuation established internally in recent weeks.
The main question now is whether Newcastle will return with better terms - or whether another club decides to move on before Vieri's value rises even higher.
