São Paulo bid to sign midfielder on loan, but Bahia want a permanent deal | OneFootball

São Paulo received little encouraging news early on Monday evening (19th) in its search for reinforcements to meet coach Hernán Crespo's needs. The Tricolor finally entered the market after freezing negotiations last week due to the political uncertainty caused by the impeachment of Julio Casares. With Harry Massis taking over the presidency, inquiries resumed.

The Morumbi club sent an official proposal in the morning to sign attacking midfielder Cauly, from Bahia, who is 30 years old. According to our sources, the offer—which did not have its value disclosed—was for a one-season loan with a clause for a permanent transfer if certain targets, such as number of games played, were met.

The Salvador (BA) team rejected the offer in the afternoon and gave the impression that talks had ended.

However, a few hours ago, Bahia’s directors got back in touch with football executive Rui Costa. They said they are willing to negotiate Cauly, as long as the transfer is permanent right now. The asking price was 10 million euros (about R$ 62.5 million). And obviously, that’s far too much for São Paulo’s current budget, which thanked them and promised to get back soon. The truth is, as we know: there’s no cash available for such a deal.

Cauly is ambidextrous and highly regarded by idol Rogério Ceni. This season, he has attracted attention from other clubs. Rivals Corinthians were among those who inquired about his situation, as well as Internacional and Fluminense.

Although he was born in Bahia, the player has only played professionally in Brazil for the Salvador team, having been signed in 2023 from Ludogorets, Bulgaria. Before that, he played only in Germany. In addition to being an attacking midfielder, he can also play on the wings. He has a contract with Bahia until the end of 2028.

Signing an attacking midfielder is a priority for São Paulo, which is currently using Lucas in the role after Oscar decided to retire and the club sold Rodriguinho to Bragantino. On Monday, the Tricolor made an official loan offer for Julián Fernández, a 21-year-old prospect from New York City.

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