Hull City are on the verge of signing 18-year-old Brazilian attacking midfielder Gabriel Mec from Grêmio, with an offer worth €17m (£14.6m) guaranteed plus €3m (£2.6m) in performance-related bonuses understood to have satisfied the Brazilian club's demands.
Brazilian journalist Fábio Vargas reports the deal is at an advanced stage, with Mec now expected to sign a five-year contract in England once the remaining details are finalised. The agreement also includes future-sale protection, allowing Grêmio to benefit financially if Mec is sold on at a later date.
Hull have quietly moved ahead of a number of more prominent clubs to reach this point. Chelsea had come closest previously, with reports suggesting they discussed a package worth up to €24m (£20.6m), while Newcastle remained one of the Premier League clubs most consistently linked with the teenager. Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain and Porto were among the others credited with interest at various stages.
Grêmio extended Mec's contract until 2031 in recent months and repeatedly stressed they believed his value would continue to rise, holding firm rather than accepting earlier offers. Hull's proposal appears to have met that threshold, making them the first club to push negotiations to the point where an agreement is within reach.
Mec is a versatile attacker capable of playing as a number 10 and on either flank. He has been called up to Brazilian youth national teams on multiple occasions and is regarded as one of the most promising young players to emerge from the Grêmio academy in recent years.
For Hull, it would represent a significant statement of intent as they prepare for their first Premier League season in a decade.
The signing would also validate Hull's recruitment approach.