Fluminense may release striker to Brasileirão rival

Ceará has stepped up its transfer market activity and is close to announcing another offensive reinforcement. The club has advanced in negotiations with Fluminense for the signing of striker Paulo Baya, currently on loan to the Rio de Janeiro club from Primavera-SP. According to reports, the 26-year-old already has an agreement with the Ceará club, with only the official release from the Laranjeiras club pending.

Despite talks being at an advanced stage, the agreement has not yet been made official. The expectation is that the negotiation will be concluded by Friday (15), which would allow the player to arrive in Fortaleza at the weekend. In fact, Baya was not used by Renato Gaúcho in Fluminense's last match, when he was on the bench in the 2-1 victory over América de Cali, in the South American, on Tuesday (12).

Previously, the striker played for Goiás in the 2024 season, where he scored the team's goal in the final round of Série B, a result that directly contributed to Ceará's promotion to the national elite. In his current stint with Fluminense, he has played 17 games, scoring two goals, and providing one assist, primarily on the wings—exactly the profile sought by the Alvinegro in this mid-year transfer window.

While negotiating with Baya, the club has already made other reinforcements official. Striker Rodriguinho, formerly of Cruzeiro , was announced on Wednesday (13). In addition to him, midfielder Vina returned to the squad and midfielder Zanocelo, on loan from Santos, was presented this Tuesday (12). During a press conference, Zanocelo highlighted the reasons that made him accept the proposal from Ceará:

"One of the things that motivated me to come to Ceará was the strength of the group. I think it's a very qualified group, including all the players, not just the midfielders. My decision was based on the project, the sporting aspect, and the family aspect as well. The club's structure was something that really surprised me."

Currently, Ceará occupies 12th place in Série A, with 22 points. The next match will be on Saturday (16), at 4 pm (Brasília time), against Red Bull Bragantino , at Arena Castelão, for the 20th round of the Brazilian Championship. In parallel, the club also plays the semifinal of the Copa do Nordeste, facing Bahia on Wednesday (20), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time).

Finally, it's worth noting that Paulo Baya's contract with Fluminense ends in December, which facilitates negotiations for his early departure. Ceará, in turn, is working with Primavera-SP and the Rio de Janeiro club to define the financial terms and finalize the process.