The Porto Alegre club have rejected an opening offer from Fiorentina and made clear they will only sell for their €20 million asking price.
Corriere dello Sport reported that Fiorentina submitted a formal offer of €12 million for Viery, which Grêmio turned down without negotiation.
The Brazilian club are holding firm and awaiting a bid that meets their valuation. Newcastle United, who have greater financial resources than either Fiorentina or the other interested parties, have sent a club representative to watch Viery in person — a step beyond the routine scouting carried out by Bologna, Nottingham Forest, Brighton, Benfica and Lille, all of whom are monitoring the defender's situation.
Newcastle's opening bid is understood to be in the region of €14 million, which remains short of Grêmio's demand, but the Magpies' willingness to negotiate in person puts them in a stronger position than any European rival.
Viery joined Grêmio in early 2025 and has made 26 appearances across all competitions this season, with two goals to his name. He operates primarily as a right-sided centre-back but has shown the versatility to play across the defensive line. His contract runs until December 2029, and Grêmio retain 80 percent of his economic rights — meaning they need a fee that justifies the hold on those rights before they commit to any sale.
A €50 million release clause applies to foreign clubs from March 2026, though that figure is significantly above Grêmio's stated transfer market valuation.
For Newcastle, the pursuit is driven by succession planning. Dan Burn and Fabián Schär are both 34. Sven Botman has struggled with persistent injury. Bologna view Viery as a replacement for Jhon Lucumi, who is expected to leave this summer, but Newcastle's financial firepower gives the Magpies the clearest route to meeting Grêmio's demands.