The Fulham manager is keen to sign the Manchester United man, but he is reportedly being blocked by Fulham’s data analyst Craig Kline.
Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic is is being frustrated in the transfer market
Slavisa Jokanovic’s pursuit of Manchester United attacking midfielder Andreas Pereira is currently being put on hold, not by the Red Devils, but from within Fulham’s hierarchy, the Daily Mail is reporting.
The Manchester United player is now seemingly at the centre of a power struggle at another club, as Jokanovic is being frustrated by data analyst Craig Kline within the Fulham set-up.
Kline, a university friend of owner Shahid Khan’s son, is currently pursuing the ‘moneyball’ approach to the transfer market, by analysing player data as a basis for transfer moves.
Slavisa Jokanovic’s hands are tied at Fulham by American Craig Kline
And the American data analyst, whose role at Craven Cottage is ‘Director of Statistical research’, has reportedly vetoed Jokanovic’s attempts to land Pereira on loan, despite the Serbian manager receiving a personal recommendation by United chief Jose Mourinho.
Pereira, who has represented Brazil at Under-23 level but narrowly missed out on a place in their Olympics squad over the summer, is not expected to play a part in United’s first team set-up this season, and is set to be shipped out on loan.
But whether he joins Fulham or not may not be down to the decision of the coach, as Jokanovic explained to the Mail.
Jokanovic wants to sign Andreas Pereira
“I am not an important person in terms of recruitment, I have lost many players in the nine months behind me.
“Ask Craig Kline because I do not handle this side of the business, in the end the decision is not in my hands.
“I am not frustrated but I am a little bit surprised. He is a very important person in the club but nobody knows him.
“He should come from backstage and explain what we are doing in the football club.”
Wanted: Asamoah Gyan
Fulham have had an excellent start to the new season, with two wins and two draws from their opening four games, leaving the Cottagers on 8 points and fifth in the current league standings.
The club are still active in the transfer market, and it was reported today by Sky Sports that Jokanovic is eyeing a move for Ghanaian Asamoah Gyan.
Whether he will be able to sign the player, however, may not be in his hands.
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