‘We would do it anyway’ – Bilic confirms West Brom will sign loan star permanently
Slaven Bilic has confirmed that West Brom will sign Matheus Pereira on a permanent basis from Sporting CP – no matter what.
Pereira, 23, has been one of the stars of the season in the Championship since joining the Baggies on a season-long loan in the summer.
According to the Telegraph, an £8.25million permanent switch to The Hawthorns for Pereira would be triggered if he made more than 30 Championship appearances of 45 minutes or more for West Brom.
Pereira was one appearance away from that happening before the season was put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic but Bilic has made it clear that the Baggies will sign the Brazilian attacker regardless.
“Matheus will definitely buy, because we are obliged to do that when he reaches a certain number of games – and we would do it anyway,” Bilic told Portuguese newspaper Record, as translated by the Birmingham Mail.
Since football was put on pause in the United Kingdom, the Express & Star has reported that West Brom have both the obligation to sign Pereira for £8.25million if he meets the appearance clause and the option to sign him if he doesn’t.
Clearly, Pereira is someone who Albion will want to sign with him doing so well in the West Midlands this season, scoring six goals and supplying 16 assists in 33 league appearances [transfermarkt].
Kevin Phillips has previously told West Brom News that it is a “no-brainer” for the Baggies to sign Pereira at the price he’s available for.
It is impossible to disagree with that.
In other West Brom news, ESPN have reported what date the EFL plans to resume the season on.