Newcastle United’s interest in Grêmio defender Viery has now moved beyond scouting missions.
The Magpies hadalready sent a scout to watch Viery earlier this year. Brighton and Benfica also entered the picture afterwards, with the Portuguese side viewed in Brazil as particularly attentive to the situation.
Now, according to journalist Fábio Vargas, Newcastle have formalised their interest.
That development comes during a rapid rise for Viery, who started the season outside Grêmio’s strongest defensive plans and is now attracting interest from multiple European clubs.
He has turned into an undisputed starter under manager Luís Castro and already has 25 appearances this season. During that run, he has recorded 54 tackles and won 61 aerial duels. In the Brazilian league alone, he averages 6.5 clearances and 3.9 recoveries per game.
Newcastle make first move
According to Brazilian journalistFábio Vargas, the Premier League club have made an official proposal for the 21-year-old, becoming the first side to take concrete action after weeks of growing attention around the defender.
The report states the Premier League side submitted an offer worth €12m (£10.3m) for the defender. That bid falls well below Grêmio’s current demands.
The Brazilian club are asking for between €20m (£17.2m) and €25m (£21.5m) to negotiate Viery’s sale, despite his release clause standing at €50m (£43m).
Earlier in the year, Viery was mainly viewed as a squad option. Injuries and inconsistency opened space in the side, and he responded strongly enough to become one of Luís Castro’s most trusted defenders.
What happens next
Newcastle’s offer may not be enough today, but it changes the dynamic around the player.
Until now, the story centred around scouting and interest. An official proposal creates a more concrete market and increases pressure on other clubs following the situation.
For Grêmio, a formal offer strengthens their negotiating position and supports the higher valuation they established internally over recent weeks.
The key question now is whether Newcastle return with improved terms – or whether another club decides to move first before Viery’s value climbs even higher.