Merlo: $20 million transfer negotiation for Thiago Almada in advanced stage

Merlo doesn't miss often. Here's what we know.

Noted South American transfer reporter César Luis Merlo has reported that “Atlanta United has advanced negotiations to sell Thiago Almada to Eagle Football Group” for $20 million.

Eagle Football Group, owned by American businessman John Textor, has controlling stakes in multiple clubs around the world. The ones you need to know in this case are Olympique Lyonnais in France, Crystal Palace in England and Botafogo in Brazil.

It’s unclear which of those clubs Almada would be going to if this deal were to go through. But we do know a few things.

• Botafogo are very interested in having Almada at their club.

• Eagle Football Group inquired about Almada earlier this year.

• Eagle Football Group has the money.

• Merlo generally doesn’t miss.

As for what we don’t know…

• “Advanced” could mean a few things. What stage are we truly talking about? There’s a difference between Almada just needing to sign and Atlanta looking the offer over.

• Atlanta has been resolute in their assertion—however goofy it seems—that they have plans set in place to keep Almada for the length of his contract and beyond if the right offer doesn’t come in. Is this really enough to pull them out of that mindset? $20 million is not the $25-$30 million mark that has been thrown around in the past.

• Is Thiago Almada open to a potential deal that sends him to Brazil before it sends him to a club that either finished sixth in Ligue 1 or 10th in the Premier League this season?

The offers from major clubs for an MLS record fee that some might have expected just aren’t coming. It might be possible that the Five Stripes are willing to move on here and run with a $4 million net on their initial deal for Almada. Two and a half years of good to great to sometimes elite play plus $4 million is a pretty great return.

We’ll keep y’all updated as this story develops.

IMMEDIATE UPDATE:

As we were writing this, Garth Lagerwey was on 92.9 talking about it. Could this be the rare Merlo miss? We’ll see.

Important to note that a rumor of Almada to Botafogo then Lyon popped up a few days ago. Per one of those weird player-focused accounts on Twitter (and a few others, I just like mess), Textor reportedly took to the internet to deny this rumor. It’s in line with what Lagerwey said on 92.9. This could be one of those that goes away as quick as it arrives.

Transfer season is great, huh?

UPDATE (6/23/24 @ 4 p.m. ET): Personal terms reportedly agreed

Ok, now all of the streams are starting to cross and make sense.

GE Globo in Brazil, a reputable source, is reporting that personal terms between Eagle FG and Almada have been agreed. Now, the group will reach out to Atlanta United with the formal offer. See, everyone was telling their own version of the truth. Don’t you love it when a story comes together?

Anyway, the key portion of the article translates like this:

The young Argentine's staff has already agreed to the salary terms presented, and now Alvinegro will formalize the proposal to Atlanta United, the club to which the player belongs.

So, there you go. We’ll see how much Atlanta wants to push back here. My view is that if they’re offering $20 million and Almada wants to go, you take it and run. It’s time. The club may view it differently though.