Exclusive: Kevin Phillips urges West Brom to complete ‘no-brainer’ deal amid EFL break
We’re delighted to welcome former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns…
Kevin Phillips has called on West Brom to tie up a permanent deal for loan star Matheus Pereira, claiming that the attacker can be worth up to £20million.
West Brom are obliged to sign Pereira, 23, on an £8.25million permanent deal from Sporting CP once he makes 30 Championship appearances of more than 45 minutes, according to the Telegraph.
However with the news that the EFL has been suspended until early April, Pereira is stuck on 29 appearances, meaning he would have triggered that permanent move on Saturday had the Baggies played against Birmingham City.
Express & Star journalist Joseph Masi has since cleared up that even if Pereira fails to make that 30th appearance, West Brom still possess the option to sign the South American at any time they wish before his loan deal expires.
Phillips wants to see West Brom complete the permanent signing for Pereira, adding that the £8.25million fee is a bargain for a player of his quality.
“I would have thought so,” Phillips told West Brom News when asked if the Baggies should trigger the option to sign Pereira.
“He’s already shown this season, with the class he’s got. I personally believe he could step up to Premier League level with the quality he’s shown.
“He’s a player who looks comfortable playing at The Hawthorns. He enjoys playing with those players and the manager so yes, I think he’s a no-brainer to get on board and try to secure his services.
“He’s a wonderful player but you hope we do resume at some point and he plays that 30th game so all that uncertainty goes out of the window and he comes a West Brom player.
“For £8.25million, wow. That is a snip, isn’t it? He’s probably a £15-20million player.”
We cannot agree with Super Kev more.
Pereira is a fantastic player and, if anything, he could be worth far more than what Phillips is currently suggesting if he settles down in the Premier League.
Let’s hope that the club does the right thing and clarifies this situation sooner rather than later but it seems that there is little to worry about for supporters.
In other West Brom news, Darren Bent is stunned that West Ham didn’t recall Grady Diangana in January.