Pereira Won't 'Costa' Half Of Lingard-Better Deal?

Matheus Fellipe Costa Pereira is a 25 year old Brazilian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or right winger. Given Hammers recent 'dalliance' with exotic Brazilian midfielder/wingers in the form of Felipe Anderson, a liaison which was catastrophically unsuccessful, why are fans clambering for the club to sign another player of exactly the same ilk?

Well, although Pereira shares the same birthplace, he doesn't share the same work ethic, namely he puts himself about, never shirks a tackle and is NOT intimidated by burly centre backs or strapping midfield enforcers. Ironically he kept ex-Hammer Grady Diangana out of West Brom's starting line up, despite the fact the Baggies paid more than twice the price for Grady as opposed to that which they paid for Pereira.

Along with other Irons' target, Sam Johnstone, Pereira was West Brom's stand out player in an otherwise desperately poor season which saw them relegated straight back from where they had come from! That is not to say that Pereira won't shine in a 'proper' top flight team.

In fact given the chances that were regularly created, but not converted, by West Ham last season, there could indeed be the mouth watering prospect of him linking up with the forward line to further enhance Hammers 'need for speed' if he moves to the London Stadium.

Pereira's dead ball capabilities are an added and significant bonus, a quality recently lacking in David Moyes's squad. The only fly in the ointment is the Baggies valuation of the player they signed for just £8.5 Million just before the beginning of last season having turned his loan deal from Sporting CP into a permanent one.

It is rumoured that West Brom are asking as much as £30 Million for Pereira, however that figure is incredibly optimistic given the current state of financial affairs due to th eCovid pandemic, a figure of around half of that would be more realistic and possibly just within the reach of David Moyes' slender transfer kitty.

Obviously the interest in Pereira is a direct result of Manchester United's intransigence regarding the eventual destination of Jesse lingard, Moyes would be more than stupid if he put all his eggs in one basket, especially given United's genuine fear of being overhauled by a bunch of what they see as East End Pikey's.

The Red Devils will do all that they can to be awkward over the Lingard transfer and will wring things out until the last possible moment, a situation that Hammers need to be wary of. It seems that Moyes isn't prepared to 'dance the dance' with his former employers regarding Lingard and that is how it should be.

Yes Moyes would 'love' lingard to become part of his set up, but he won't allow himself to be pressurised by ever increasing and unreasonable demands. Pereira represents a serious alternative to Lingard, he is four years younger and while he may have a lot to learn, could be just the player to fill Lingard's void, and he will probably end up costing much less.

We don't mind whether Moyes brings in Lingard or Pereira, so long as he brings one of them!- Ed