Cruzeiro line up sale of loaned-out player, Santos watch closely | OneFootball

The future of Ian Luccas, a defensive midfielder owned by Cruzeiro and on loan at Athletic since January, is a hot topic behind the scenes in football.

The club from São João del-Rei is seeking a permanent deal for the 22-year-old player, according to ge.

Although talks between Cruzeiro’s board and Esquadrão de Aço are well advanced, nothing has been finalized yet.

ge reports that the main obstacle is the payment structure: Athletic wants to pay the amount set by Cruzeiro in installments, a point that has slowed negotiations somewhat. So far, no official offer has been submitted, but dialogue remains open.

Santos interest

Ian Luccas’ growing value has gone beyond the borders of Minas Gerais. Santos is monitoring the situation and has already begun talks with Athletic itself.

The São Paulo club’s strategy is clear: if the Minas Gerais side manages to complete the purchase from Cruzeiro, Peixe would then try to make a direct move to sign the midfielder in the next transfer window.

Career path and standout form

Developed at Ferroviária, Ian Luccas joined Cruzeiro in 2024 after spells at Goiás and a return to Locomotiva. At Athletic, under coach Alex, the player has found his best technical form, recording:

21 appearances in the 2026 season;

5 goals scored;

3 assists.

In addition to his technical quality, the defensive midfielder has become one of the most versatile players in the squad, operating as a true "utility man" in midfield. The possible sale of Ian Luccas is part of Cruzeiro’s squad restructuring, as the club looks to trim the group and carry out important financial moves during the break for the World Cup.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

📸 Pedro Vilela - 2025 Getty Images