Palmeiras dodge questions but keep talks over Arias and Almada | OneFootball

Palmeiras offered no answers on Jhon Arias and Thiago Almada, as Leila Pereira and Abel Ferreira sidestepped questions before and after the 1-0 win against Santos.

According to Globo.com, the club are in contact with the representatives of both players as they seek a marquee attacking addition. Internally, Palmeiras expect talks to take time and view the moves as difficult, yet still possible, judging neither as imminent nor remote.

Arias, 28, is at Wolverhampton and has long been on Palmeiras’ list since his Fluminense days. Fluminense declined to negotiate and sold him to England in July in a deal totalling 22 million euros, around R$ 142 million at the time. He features regularly, but his team sit bottom of the Premier League.

Almada, a Brazilian and Libertadores champion with Botafogo, plays less at Atlético de Madri. A price discussed for a deal is 20 million euros for 50 percent of his economic rights.

Pereira has said she does not want to raise fan expectations, stressing the club are alert to opportunities and need adjustments after reaching three finals last year, while declining to confirm negotiations. The Brazilian window runs until 3 March, and to date Palmeiras have signed only Marlon Freitas, formerly of Botafogo.

Source: Globo.com