Brazilian club Cruzerio have laid out the financial details of an offer they claim to have rejected from Celtic for Fabricio Bruno, and revealed further talks will take place this week.
The centre-back has been linked with a move to Celtic Park in January and could even be available on a free as he takes legal action to be released from his contract over unpaid wages.
It's believed that Nick Hammond has received favourable reports after having the 23-year-old watched in recent months.
The Brazilian club claim to have already thrown out a bid from the Premiership champions and they've now released further details of the negotiations.
A statement reads: "Cruzeiro Esporte Clube explains that it has not received any official proposal from Celtic for defender Fabricio Bruno.
"The player's agent, Fabio Mello, was at Toca da Raposa 2 this week in the company of Fabricio Bruno and met with the club's board, represented by the directors Marcelo Djian, Benecy Queiroz, Valdir Barbosa and vice-president Marcio Rodrigues.
"Fabio Mello reported that he was meeting with Scottish club officials in London, England, and was authorized to make a loan proposal from January to June 2020, with Celtic paying 300,000 Euros for the loan and 2.5million Euros more if Fabricio Bruno was approved during this period.
"Cruzeiro did not accept and countered 1million euros for the loan and 4 million euros if the player was approved.
"Sporting director Marcelo Djian even said: 'if Fabricio Bruno does not stay with Celtic he'd return undervalued and Cruzerio would receive only 500,000 Euros - a very small amount'.
"The agent of the player said that the amount requested by Cruzeiro was a little high, but he would work to increase the values of the loan and permanent transfer.
"Fabio Mello also said that he would be traveling on December 26 to London and invited Marcelo Djian to join him for the negotiation.
"Cruzeiro never ended negotiations and was surprised by agent Fabio Mello who who later called Marcelo Djian and Benecy Queiroz apologising and warning that the case would be brought to the courts by Fabricio Bruno."
