Danny Wright

Thu 19 March 2020 14:06, UK

Jonathan Greening has warned West Brom that clubs will queue up to sign Matheus Pereira in the summer if they fail to win promotion from the Championship.

Pereira, 23, is currently on loan at The Hawthorns but he is set to sign permanently before that loan deal expires.

According to Express & Star journalist Joseph Masi, the Baggies have the right to sign Pereira for £8.25million at any point during his loan.

It is a small fee for a player who has been directly involved in 22 goals this season by scoring six of his own and assisting a further 16 in 33 Championship appearances.

Greening claims that West Brom are getting a steal at that price but is worried that if his former club fail to return to the Premier League, it means that he could be poached by others.

“Absolute bargain,” the ex-Baggies captain told 888Sport. “I’ve been back to West Brom a few times and every time he’s been one of the best players on the pitch. He can do a little bit of everything.

“He can take players on. He’s got a killer pass. He can get creative. He finds nice pockets of space and can score goals and set them up.

“Just as important though is his work ethic. He does a job for the team defensively. He seems to be a real team player.

“If West Brom falter and fall into the play-offs then don’t go up, there will be loads of club queuing to get him because they will only have to offer a little bit more than the eight million West Brom signed him for.”

Greening makes a good point and Pereira is bound to want to play in the Premier League – whether it is with West Brom or not.

As it stands, with Albion six points clear of third with nine games to play, there is a good chance that Pereira will be playing in the top-flight in blue and white stripes next season.

However if the Baggies do slip up and top teams come in for the Brazilian, it might be time to worry about his future.

In other West Brom news, Pereira has recently discussed his future at The Hawthorns.