Fulham are waiting for a decision from Manchester United midfielder Andreas Pereira after the newly promoted Premier League side offered an £11 million deal to sign the Belgian-born Brazilian. The Sun has reported that the Cottagers are keen to secure the 26-year-old this summer.
Pereira signed for United back in 2011 with Sir Alex Ferguson still the first team manager, with Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool interested in signing him, but it was Ferguson who made the deal happen. Pereira made his first team debut in the 2014/15 season under Louis van Gaal.
Finding himself surplus to requirements at United, Pereira spent last season in Brazil with Flamengo, scoring seven goals and three assists in 52 appearances in his time at the club. It was believed that he would be signed by the club but they did not want to conclude the pre-arranged deal.
It is believed that Flamengo would like to sign the player permanently but with Fulham’s offer of £9 million with a further £2 million in add-ons, the Brazilian club would need to match or better that offer for the deal to be completed. Fulham seem keen on the 26-year-old.
During his time at United, Pereira has excelled in preseason, falling to fulfil the promise he had as a player in the first team, which is why there is no longer a place for him at the club. Don’t get me wrong, the lad is talented but not in a way that United would require.
In his eight seasons in the first team, Pereira has made 75 appearances, scoring four goals and five assists. He has seen loan spells with Valencia, Granada and Lazio largely fail with him not achieving the heights expected of him always returning to United for another chance.
Pereira has seen Van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjær manage the club, being on loan when Michael Carrick and Ralf Rangnick stepped in temporarily. It has been suggested that Erik ten Hag would like to look at the midfielder, but if he can be sold to bring in more money, that is better.
United have Scott McTominay, Fred, Bruno Fernandes and Donny van de Beek in the midfield currently with James Garner keen to show what he can do. If Frenkie de Jong and Christian Eriksen sign for United, the midfield will be crowded and Pereira would not get an opportunity, in my opinion.
Pereira probably knows that he will be better off away from United as pastures new might rejuvenate him and see him perform consistently, which has been a problem throughout his career. I would be annoyed if he remained at United, given that his contract expires in a years time.
Written by John Walker
