Transfer spotlight: Samba star to replace Carragher at Liverpool or Ferdinand at Man United?
It looks like Vasco da Gama's sought-after centre-back Dedé will be on his way out of São Januário this summer, after club representatives admitted that financial concerns are forcing them to sell their top talent. As such, both Liverpool and Man United have been linked with the Brazilian, but is he right for either club? talkSPORT's transfer spotlight runs the rule over him.
Name: Anderson Vital da Silva (Dedé)
Date of birth: 1 July, 1988
Birthplace: Volta Redonda, Brazil
Club: Vasco da Gama
Position: Centre back
International: Brazil (6 caps/0 goals)
What's the latest?
With Brendan Rodgers facing the tricky task of replacing Jamie Carragher and Sir Alex Ferguson scratching his head over the long-term futures of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, both Liverpool and Man United have subsequently been linked with Vasco da Gama's highly-rated centre-back Dedé. With the Brazilian club conceding that their star stopper will have to be sold in the summer, tongues have been wagging over his potential destination.
Did you know?
1) A native of Volta Redonda, a city in the state of Rio de Janiero, Dedé's career began in earnest at the city's main football club, known as Volta Redonda Futebol Clube or Voltaço for short. Dedé spent five years at the club, progressing from it's youth set-up into the senior side.
2) Dedé enjoyed a good campaign in the Rio state league, or Campeonato Carioca, prompting Vasco da Gama to take note of the impressive young defender.
3) He joined the Rio giants in 2009 on an initial loan deal, with an option to make the deal permanent. After a fruitful 18 months which saw Dedé pick up the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie B and a handful of individual accolades, Vasco exercised their option to make his stay permanent.
4) Over the past three years Dedé has established himself not only as imperative to Vasco's success, but is fast becoming an important cog in the national set-up. Following his international debut in July 2011, Dedé has featured a further five times for Brazil and is being tipped as a huge figure for the Seleção's World Cup chances next year.
5) Incredibly, Dedé was named among the 100 greatest Brazilian footballers of all-time, according to television network SBT. He polled at number 63, ahead of such Brazilian greats as Garrincha (73), Ronaldinho (82) and Romario (92). We're not sure who voted for that result, but it does show he's highly rated at this moment in time.
They say
“We can’t mislead the fans, we will find it very difficult to hold on to Dedé because the club needs the resources, and at some point it will happen - by the middle of the year.” - Vasco director general Cristiano Koehler.
“[He is] absurdly talented and will certainly be one of Brazil’s stars at the 2014 World Cup.” - Fluminese coach Abel Braga.
Video evidence
The best of Dedé at Vasco da Gama
Highlights of Dedé's performance in the 2011 Campeonato Brasileiro against Santos
Which club should Dedé join? Is he the man to replace Jamie Carragher at Liverpool, could he be Rio Ferdinand's long term successor at Man United? Let us know by commenting below.