Phillips Exclusive: West Brom player will accept reported £11.7m offer
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 claims that Matheus Pereira is “not going to say no” to the new contract that West Brom have reportedly offered him.
The Telegraph reported on Wednesday that the Baggies have tabled a new five-year deal for the 24-year-old Brazlian worth £11.7million (£45,000-a-week).
Pereira only joined Albion on a permanent basis in the summer after an obligation-to-buy clause was triggered in his deal when he left Sporting CP on an initial loan deal last year.
The attacker, who assisted more goals than any other player in the Championship last season, has started life in the Premier League well by scoring one and assisting two of West Brom’s six goals in the top-flight since helping them win promotion.
Ex-West Brom striker Phillips doesn’t see Pereira turning down the new terms that have reportedly been offered to him and has praised the Baggies for their proactive approach.
“Good deal. Fair play to the player, he’s literally only just arrived,” Phillips told West Brom News.
“I think they recognise what a good player he is and they’re rewarding him.
“He’s a player they don’t want to lose and they understand the importance of keeping him at the football club.
“They want to keep him happy – that’s not to say he’s not happy with what he’s on but he’s not going to say no to a new contract.
“I watched him the other night. He put himself in a good couple of positions and could have got a couple of goals.
“If you want to build a team, he’s certainly a player you want to build around.”
It has been over a year since the Express & Star reported that Pereira agreed personal terms to join West Brom permanently when his loan deal ended.
That means the deal he’s currently on at The Hawthorns – reportedly worth £30,000-a-week – was something that was agreed before he absolutely tore the Championship to shreds last term.
Pereira’s shown that he can be a valuable asset in the Premier League so getting him tied down to a longer and more lucrative deal will hopefully keep the vultures at bay in the future when they inevitably come.
In other West Brom news, fans have been left gutted by this new John Percy transfer update.
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