West Brom have agreed with Matheus Pereira that the West Ham, Leeds and Crystal Palace target will not feature in their pre-season while he seeks a transfer, per Birmingham Live.
Pereira has so far sat out each of the Baggies’ off-season fixtures and will continue to watch from the sidelines as Valerien Ismael stamps his mark on The Hawthorns ranks. West Brom have so far faced Sheffield Wednesday, Salford City and Woking under their new boss.
West Brom are happy for Pereira to play no part as he waits for the West Midlands side to strike a deal for his exit. The Brazilian attracted a wealth of suitors from the Premier League and further afar with his efforts last season.
Pereira scored 11 goals and assisted a further six in the 25-year-old’s first taste of Premier League football. He now wants to stay at a higher level after relegation, but no side has yet met Albion’s asking price.
Reports by ESPN Brazil claim West Ham are leading Leeds and Crystal Palace for Pereira, but West Brom want £30m. The midfielder was open to joining Marcelo Bielsa’s side, with the Whites boss a huge fan, but wants European football.
And while Leeds and Palace cannot provide Pereira with that, West Ham can after qualifying for the Europa League. Thus, David Moyes’ outfit are the frontrunners, and West Brom have given the Irons a boost by leaving Pereira out of their pre-season while he awaits a transfer.
West Brom exit likely for West Ham and Leeds target Pereira
It looks very likely that Pereira will leave West Brom this summer given the Baggies’ stance on the West Ham and Leeds target’s involvement in their pre-season. Ismael would certainly be using the Brazilian at each and every moment if he believed the midfielder was staying.
Instead, the Albion boss is shaping his new squad without the talismanic maestro dictating proceedings in the West Midlands. A clear sign that West Brom expect Pereira will go, in a boost to West Ham, Palace and Leeds’ pursuits.
However, Moyes, Bielsa or Patrick Vieira still need their side to rise to the Baggies’ asking price. And West Ham, Leeds or Palace doing so would add a frightening talent in West Brom star Pereira. A player who earned vivid praise from Alan Shearer on Match of the Day.
“He’s been the shining light for them this season,” Shearer said, following a 3-1 defeat to Arsenal. “It kind of summed up West Brom and their season that if they were going to get back into the game today, it would be him to do something special.”
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