Pereira’s comments suggest January West Ham deal was there to be done

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Manchester United playmaker Andreas Pereira has said that a January loan deal to Santos was on the cards but collapsed, as per Esporte Interativo, via the Daily Star.

The playmaker has moved closer to the first-team squad at Old Trafford under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but the Norwegian was reportedly open to the prospect of him leaving on loan last month.

Pereira reportedly spoke to the Santos president over the opportunity to move – but found it was not possible – and would likely not have done that if United were keen to keep him at all costs.

And West Ham were credited with an interest in the Brazilian by the Daily Mirror back in December as their midfield injuries mount up in the absence of Jack Wilshere, Carlos Sanchez and Andriy Yarmolenko.

And Pereira’s comments suggest that a deal was there for West Ham to do if they did want to follow up on that reported interest.

Which could mean that the Hammers were put off a deal for Pereira – perhaps by his lack of gametime or his lacklustre performance against Burnley in his last United game.

Or the club failed to press ahead for a deal for a player who could have added creativity, versatility and guile to a side slightly short on his through a host of injuries – and one with a point to prove to boot.