The bid was confirmed by Brazilian journalist Fábio Vargas on Tuesday, making Newcastle United the first European club to take concrete action in what is becoming an increasingly competitive pursuit.
Vargas reported that Newcastle United submitted the proposal directly to Grêmio's board, who have set a negotiating floor of between €20 million and €25 million — making the initial offer a significant distance from where a deal would need to land. The player's release clause for overseas clubs stands at €50 million, a figure Grêmio are not expecting to see triggered.
Viery, 21, began the season outside Grêmio's first-choice defensive plans. Injuries and inconsistency in the squad opened space for him, and he responded with a level of performance that has put him on the radar of clubs across England and Europe.
He has made 25 appearances this season, recording 54 tackles and 61 aerial duels. In Campeonato Brasileiro games alone he averages 6.5 clearances and 3.9 recoveries per game — defensive output that has caught the attention of Premier League clubs looking for young centre-backs capable of adapting quickly to English football's physical demands.
Newcastle are not alone. Nottingham Forest, Brighton & Hove Albion, Benfica, Lille and Bologna have all monitored the situation closely, with the Portuguese club considered particularly attentive in Brazil. However, Newcastle remain the frontrunners having now moved from scouting to formal approach.
The club's South American recruitment network — built since sporting director Ross Wilson brought in specialist scouts focused on Brazil, Ecuador and Colombia — has been active in identifying younger defensive profiles. Viery fits that template precisely: young, left-footed, versatile enough to play on either side of a central defensive partnership and capable of covering at left-back if required.
Grêmio have no obligation to sell. Viery is contracted until 2029 and the club are in a position of comfort, knowing that Newcastle's opening bid is well below their stated valuation and that further interest from other clubs is likely to intensify as the summer progresses.
A bidding war, however modest, is exactly what Grêmio's board are hoping to engineer.