Vasco bid for Estrela Vermelha striker Bruno Duarte as search for a centre-forward intensifies | OneFootball

Vasco have intensified their search for a number nine and have submitted a bid for Estrela Vermelha striker Bruno Duarte, 30, who is open to a move.

Globo.com reports that the proposal is about €1.5 million, roughly R$ 9 million, for a permanent transfer. The football department has drawn up a shortlist and Admar Lopes has begun the search.

Duarte has played abroad since 2019 and, after three seasons with the Serbian club, has indicated a desire to join Vasco. His goalscoring profile and Brazilian nationality are seen as positives by the hierarchy.

The attack has struggled to turn chances into goals. Spinelli, David and Brenner have not cemented places. Brenner appeared to be progressing after Copa do Brasil goals against Fluminense, then suffered a serious left foot injury and faces at least a month out.

Duarte has impressed in alternative European markets, scoring 42 in 97 for Estrela Vermelha. He previously played in the Portuguese, Ukrainian and Saudi leagues. His last Brazilian club was Portuguesa in 2018, having come through Palmeiras’ academy until 2015.

Vasco are already over the foreign-player limit, with 11 non-Brazilians in the squad. Seeking a centre-forward, a centre-back and a midfielder, the board are constrained by finances, with judicial interventions and a R$ 150 million loan frozen by the courts.

At present the club cannot assume debts above R$ 5.9 million and is asking the courts to release the loan in order to act in the final weeks of the window.

Source: Globo.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”