Liverpool target Zeca is ready to take the legal route to get his contract canceled. This is not an ideal way to settle things for any professional, but the 23-year-old defender has mounted a legal claim against his current club Santos, a report from the Mirror claims.
The player has claimed that the club owes him money and that he has been threatened by the fans. This could mean a resurrection of interest by the Reds in the left-back.
Liverpool were monitoring Zeca a year ago and were reported to be mulling over a bid. However, the Reds pulled out of this as the Brazilian Under-21 international was not eligible for a work permit.
It was easy in the past, for players to get a work permit, but considering the rise of South American footballers earning it easily, the rules have been tightened. That has curbed the easy movement of players to Europe. The work permit issues are now a thing of the past as the left-back landed himself an Italian passport in the summer. That makes him eligible for a move to European clubs.
His legal issues with Santos has put the Reds on high alert as we now believe it could open a door for their bid. Zeca is a gold-winning member of the Brazilian team at the 2016 Rio Olympics but has fallen out of favour with his club’s fans after taking to social media to criticise them.
The player’s camp claims that he is unhappy with the lack of security provided to him and he feels threatened at Santos. His lawyer also claims that contractual obligations are to be settled.
Reports indicate that the Sao Paulo-based club are ready to accept a £2m deal for the player, who could leave for nothing in the summer. A court hearing has been set up for the case in April but it is understood that the Brazilian club will not stand in his way if he finds a club before that.
Will that club be Liverpool? We strengthened the left-back position in the summer by signing Andrew Robertson from Hull City. That, coupled with the fact that Alberto Moreno has improved his form, augurs well for Jurgen Klopp.
Should Liverpool take advantage of the situation and go for Zeca?
