With the hunt for Ganso"s signature now well and truly underway, it appears that Grêmio have manouvered themselves into pole position.
With Santos uninclined to sell to city rivals São Paulo, Grêmio would have the backing of the player"s club, but it is thought that DIS [who own 55% of Ganso"s economic rights] and the player prefer a move to the Morumbi.
However, following a meeting with DIS officials on Thursday afternoon, Grêmio"s executive director Paulo Pelaipe revealed that the side have agreed terms with Ganso and are close to an agreement with the player"s agency.
“I met with them [DIS] this afternoon," Pelaipe told Globo Esporte. “The situation is going very well, we are on the same lines and we have arrived at a common denominator.
“[Club president] Odone is driving this process. Grêmio are interested and the athlete"s demands are compatible and viable. We hope to reach a positive outcome."
There may, though, be further twists in the tale with Globo reporting that São Paulo president Adalberto Baptista also met with the group on Thursday.
Both sides would be looking to purchase the 45% of Ganso"s ownership controlled by Santos, with Grêmio now only looking to secure financing for the R$23.8 million (£7.3 million) fee demanded by the club.
Although the Porto Alegre club have stolen a march in the race for the player"s signature, with São Paulo"s significant financial backing, the saga may drag on for some time yet.
