Anzhi Makhachkala miss out on ?87m deadline-day signing of Porto's Hulk
The Russian outfit attempted to lure the Brazil international away from his current club in the closing stages of the summer transfer windowSep 2, 2011 6:29:00 PM
EXCLUSIVE
By Alexandre Walraevens | Chief Editor, Goal.com France
Anzhi Makhachkala narrowly missed out on signing Porto forward Hulk for an ?87 million fee on transfer deadline day, Goal.com can reveal.
A delegation sent to Portugal by the Dagestani side had reached a preliminary agreement with Porto to sign the Brazil international. However, the Portuguese club's attempt to raise the player's asking price at the last minute scuppered the deal.
Both clubs reached an accord over a transfer fee of ?87m by 20:00 (CET) on Wednesday, while personal terms, including an annual salary of ?10.5m, were also agreed upon.
However, just two hours after agreeing on an ?87m fee, Porto president Pinto da Costa asked Anzhi to raise their initial bid to ?90m, a request that ultimately brought a premature end to the talks.
The information came to light due to the unsuccessful attempt of Saint-Etienne to sign the Porto forward Walter Henrique da Silva. The Ligue 1 outfit were in advanced talks with the Europa League holders over a season-long loan deal, with a view to making the transfer permanent at the end of the campaign.
However, late on deadline day Porto pulled the plug on the deal as they unexpectedly needed to count on him for the upcoming season in light of Hulk's looming departure. Walter, who joined the Estadio do Dragao outfit from Internacional in the summer of 2010, was on Thursday ommited from the club's Champions League squad as a result of his compatriot's stay.
The Dagestani side have not yet given up hope of bringing the 25-year-old striker to the Russian Premier League though and are determined to make another attempt to sign him in the January transfer window.
When contacted by Goal.com, an Anzhi spokesperson refused to confirm or deny whether the big-spending Russian club had made an attempt to sign Hulk, while a spokesman for Porto would only say: "We never comment on those things, when there is something to comment on, it is usually the president who does it."
In spite of those denials though, Jose Aparecido Miguel, an assistant to Hulk's agent, Juan Figer, did confirm that talks had taken place between the two clubs over a prospective move and that the Russian outfit had submitted a bid to the Portuguese champions.
"A Russian club were firm and tabled an offer. Porto received an offer," Miguel told Goal.com.
Hulk recently agreed a new contract at Porto, the terms of which expire in the summer of 2016. The former Tokyo Verdy star's buyout clause has been set at ?100m.
?87m
