It would be something of an understatement to say that Matheus Pereira has been a sensation for West Brom this season.
The Brazilian winger, on loan from Sporting Lisbon, has been one of the main factors as to why West Brom currently find themselves top of the Championship table, with stats from WhoScored showing that the 23-year-old attacker has managed five goals and 10 assists in 20 league appearances.
Pereira, who Bundesliga.com once compared to Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah who currently has a Transfermarkt valuation of £135m, can make a solid claim for himself to be the best player in the Championship this season, and according to The Athletic, West Brom are set to pull the trigger in January and sign the exciting attacker on a permanent deal.
Is Matheus Pereira the best player in the Championship?
Yes
No
Indeed, it’s common sense that West Brom want to secure the services of Pereira from Sporting on a permanent deal in January. The Brazilian has been one of the Baggies best-performing players and has become a fan favourite at the Hawthorns, but signing the attacker now could be risky business.
As well as the threat of Pereira’s form nose-diving off a cliff heading into the New Year, the exact opposite could happen in which the youngster’s already impressive performances in the Championship might increase, and whilst that particular issue doesn’t seem like a problem for West Brom, it will be in the 2020 summer transfer window.
We have already seen reports this season from The Mirror that Manchester United are interested in Pereira, and should the Brazilian sign for West Brom on a permanent deal and continue to flourish in the Championship, the attacker will become a main target for clubs in the Premier League and beyond.
West Brom made one of the signings of the summer in Pereira, but making the move a permanent one could see the Baggies lose the Brazilian star in the summer should he continue his exceptional form, which will be disastrous if the Albion do find themselves in the Premier League in August 2020.