Why Fluminense's latest Copa Libertadores win is bad news for Liverpool's Andre transfer hopes

Fluminense won their Copa Libertadores last 16 second leg tie with Argentinos Juniors 2-0 on Tuesday night, sending them into the last eight with an aggregate victory of 3-1.

Late goals from Samuel Xavier Brito and John Kennedy sealed the win for the Brazilian side at the Maracanã, who are seeking their first ever Copa Libertadores (the South American equivalent of the Champions League) crown.

Liverpool target Andre Trindade played the full game, having missed his side's weekend win over Palmerias in the Campeonato Brasileiro.

The quarter finals will now be played in the last weeks of August, with the first legs taking place between 22-24 of August and the return fixtures on 29-31 August.

Liverpool's interest in Andre

The Reds had been tipped to move for Andre this summer as part of their summer rebuild, following the exits of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Arthur Melo.

READ MORE: Who is Andre Trindade? Meet the Brazilian star tipped to replace Fabinho

The one-cap Brazil international was being looked at as one midfield option – possibly as a long-term Thiago successor to complement the arrival of a player like Romeo Lavia – with reports speculating that Andre himself would be open to a move.

South American football expert Tim Vickery had said that Andre, who has yet to play outside of Brazil, would 'slot right in' at Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool.

Anfield Watch reported recently Fluminense would look for around €30m (£26m) for Andre.

Why Fluminense's win is bad news for Liverpool

The big issue for the Reds is that Fluminense remain reluctant to sell a key player such as Andre in the middle of their own season.

While the European leagues are preparing to kick off the new campaign, South American football is already in full swing, with the domestic and continental calendar running until December.

It has been widely reported that Fluminense are open to granting Andre – who has also been linked with Sporting CP and Fulham – his big move to Europe, but only in the January transfer window.

The one caveat, though, was if Fluminense were to be knocked out of the Copa Libertadores – thus ending their hopes of a major trophy – it could bring them to the table this summer. This factor brought an unusual amount of attention from Liverpool fans to the last 16 clash against Argentinos Juniors on Wednesday.

Sadly for Liverpool, Fluminense's 2-0 win means a deal is now increasingly improbable.

Even if Fluminense were to be eliminated at the next stage in the quarters (29-31 August), it would leave precious little time for a transfer to be completed by the European deadline (1 September).

While the Reds could yet arrange a January deal, getting the transfer over the line in time for the start of the Premier League season doesn't look like it's going to happen.

Who else could Liverpool sign?

Elsewhere, Liverpool remain in talks over Lavia.

The Reds have seen a third bid rejected for the £50m-rated Southampton midfielder, who was left out of his club's EFL Cup defeat on Tuesday.

Anfield Watch also exclusively reported Liverpool's interest in Leicester City's Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, while the likes of Ryan Gravenberch (Bayern Munich) and Cheick Doucoure (Crystal Palace) have been mentioned as possible targets.