Aston Villa and Sunderland have been keeping an eye on Kevin Viveros for months, and things are now getting a little messy at Athletico Paranaense.

The Colombian striker is reportedly unhappy after the Brazilian club rejected a lucrative offer from abroad. He wanted the move, which would have brought him a significant pay rise, but Athletico decided against selling.

Sport Witness have exclusively reported weeks ago that Aston Villa and Sunderland had both asked questions about Viveros. Villa even returned for more information in October, with reports suggesting they were considering an offer above €20m (£17.4m).

Now another club appears to have tried its luck. The identity of the bidder hasn’t been revealed, so there’s nothing to suggest either Premier League side was behind this latest approach.

Athletico reject offer – Viveros wanted to leave

The news comes from Brazilian insider outlet Três Pontos Athletico. They say Athletico received an offer for Viveros’ permanent transfer within the past ten days. The proposal came from outside Brazil and included a very attractive salary for the striker.

According to the report, the player’s representatives took it to Athletico, who turned it down.

“The club rejected it,” the reporter explained. And Viveros apparently wasn’t pleased.

“He made it clear to Athletico that he wanted to leave,” he continued, explaining that the financial terms were extremely favourable to the player.

The journalist added that the deal would also have brought several million into the Brazilian club’s accounts.

There’s no indication of the exact fee or which club submitted the proposal.

Athletico, though, seem to have other ideas. The club want to keep Viveros for next season, with another player, Arthur, now looking the more likely candidate for a major sale.

Form drops as January approaches

There’s another complication. After months of outstanding form, Viveros hasn’t been playing particularly well lately, and the reporter believes his performances towards the end of the Brazilian season are hurting his market value.

The striker was also involved in an ugly incident against Vasco, receiving a red card after stepping on an opponent.

That could bring further disciplinary trouble, although no additional punishment has been confirmed in the information provided.

It was suggested that Viveros appeared more concerned about the rejected offer than his performances on the pitch. So the reported frustration over the blocked transfer is worth watching.

The Brazilian season finishes in December, just before the January window opens in England. Athletico are also expected to return for pre-season in early January. That leaves a natural opportunity for interested clubs to come back with offers.

Aston Villa and Sunderland already know Viveros’ situation, and his representatives have been working on his future for some time.

Whether either club returns is another matter. For now, Athletico have rejected a lucrative foreign offer, and their striker reportedly isn’t happy about it. January could be interesting.