Forest bid €12m for André Luiz in August, now his first Brazil call-up has Corinthians asking €30m

Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest would now have to find at least €30m (£26m) if they go back in for Corinthians midfielder André Luiz, after the 20-year-old earned his first senior Brazil call-up.

Both Premier League clubs were interested in the summer, and Nottingham Forest went as far as making an offer. Neither got a deal done, and the price has moved a long way since.

According to RTI Esporte, Corinthians believe André Luiz’s recent form gives them a good opportunity to ask for more, and they now expect offers of at least €30m, even though January is usually a quieter window for big fees. There are no active talks over his future, though.

Forest bid €12m, Palace sent a scout

Forest made the most concrete move in August, offering €12m (£10.4m). Corinthians turned it down and came back with a counterproposal, and talks carried on for a while, with a January move to the City Ground even discussed. It collapsed in the end.

His agent, Diogo Silva, later revealed that Forest chose to sign Gustavo Puerta instead. The Colombian joined from Racing Santander for €16m (£13.9m) before moving on to Olympiacos. It has been a turbulent year at the City Ground, from the late-night email that ended Vitor Pereira’s time there to Oliver Glasner’s tough-love approach with his Forest players.

Crystal Palace were keeping tabs on him too. They sent a representative to watch him against Remo in July, when he set up a goal in a 3-0 Corinthians win, and the Eagles’ head scout in South America later confirmed their interest. There was no known Palace offer.

Why has André Luiz’s price gone up?

Carlo Ancelotti has picked him for Brazil’s November friendlies against Japan and Singapore. Corinthians had first thought about trying to keep him out of the squad, but dropped the idea after talks with the Brazilian FA and decided the experience would help both the player and the club.

The logic is simple enough. A Brazil international with good performances behind him is an easier sell at a higher fee, and Corinthians are in no rush either: André Luiz is under contract until December 2029.

They have turned suitors away before. AC Milan came close to signing him earlier this year, only for Corinthians president Osmar Stabile to pull out of the deal, and then Forest’s approach ended without agreement.

What has he done this season?

Since coming back from injury and returning to the starting XI, André Luiz has become an important part of Corinthians’ push to get away from the relegation places. He has made 41 appearances this season, with six goals and two assists.

He has started six games in a row, playing the full 90 minutes against Vasco da Gama and Mirassol, and that run is what earned him the call from Ancelotti.

Is €30m too much for André Luiz?

For a 20-year-old with one Brazil squad to his name, €30m is a bold number, and Corinthians know January rarely brings that kind of money. But Forest were willing to spend €16m on Puerta in the summer, so the money exists, and Palace clearly rate him too.

The trouble for both is timing. Forest’s €12m offer in August is well under half of what Corinthians want now. If he impresses with Brazil this month, the €30m figure may start to look like the floor rather than the ceiling, and the clubs who hesitated may regret it.