Brazilian Under-21 international Keirrison de Souza Carneiro currently playing for homeland club Coritiba has been linked with a move to Liverpool according to sources in Brazil, as well as Barcelona, Real Madrid and Valencia. The player has a complicated contract situation, with current club Coritiba owning 20 % of the player, while business partnership Traffic, a partner of Brazilian club Palmeiras, owning 80% of the player.
Palmeiras football director Toninho Cecilio claims that the player will move to Palmeiras before making a move to Europe:
“Keirrison cannot play in Europe without the consent of Palmeiras,” he told Globo Esporte. “He cannot move as soon as he agrees it. All the players have a contractual agreement with the club.
“He will only leave if there is a joint decision. We intend to count on Keirrison next season. The striker has contract with Coritiba until April 2009, and, if he does not have an agreement with our partner, he will fulfil the deal and later he will be presented at Palmeiras.”
Keirrison, or K9 as he is known , revealed in December 2008 that Valencia had tabled an offer:
“There was no official contact from Real Madrid, not with me or my representatives,” he said.
“What we've learned is through the press.
"The only proposal that's arrived was that of Valencia, which is very interesting and we are going to discuss it. Valencia are a great and famous club and I am very happy that they want to sign me.”
The youngster has scored 54 goals in 100 games for Coritiba and his contract runs out in April 2009 according to reports. A host of European clubs including Valencia, Liverpool and Barcelona are rumoured to have registered an interest, however Liverpool are leading the chase with a rumoured loan clause in the player's contract allowing the forward to return to Brazil, and play for club Palmeiras for six months before linking up with Liverpool for pre-season.
The 20 year – old has an undisclosed release clause in his contract, however specualtion suggests the player would could cost just up to £12 million during the January transfer window. The Brazilian would fit in well at Anfield with compratriots Lucas Leiva, Fabio Aurelio and Diego Cavalieri already settled at Anfield.
