Santos FC forward Geuvânio. (Photo : Getty Images)
China League One club Tianjin Quanjian FC is said to be set on purchasing Santos FC young star Geuvânio Santos Silva, or simply Geuvânio, for €30 million ($32 million) this January as the Chinese squad looks to improve their scoring options up front.
The deal for the 23-year-old forward, who is one of the most versatile young goal scorers in world football today, is reportedly going to become the richest transfer move "on a player in China League One history", as per China Daily.
Geuvânio has played five seasons for Brazilian Serie A squad Santos from 2012 up to the present, appearing in 114 games and scoring 24 times in the process. He has also spent some time in the Brazilian Serie D team Penapolense in 2013 on loan from Santos, playing 11 games and scoring a goal during his brief stint.
The transfer is said to be "a recurring theme for Tianjin Quanjian FC as they look to buy their way to a China League One title and earn their place in China's top league, the Chinese Super League," next season.
Tianjin is one of the biggest spenders this January transfer window, having also signed goalkeeper Zhang Lu and striker Sun Ke for S10.7 million and $10 million correspondingly.
If the deal with Geuvânio pushes through, then it will be the richest during this winter window with the transfers of Zhang and Sun the 5th and 7th highest respectively.
"A Chinese team came to me with €8 million," said Santos president Modesto Roma, via Sambafoot, regarding Tianjin's initial bid for the Ilha das Flores, Brazil native. "I said that it was a pleasure to receive this, but we could not afford to release Geuvânio for this value because the clause is €30 million."
