Speaking exclusively to This Is Futbol, former West Ham striker Brian Deane feels West Brom’s Matheus Pereira could be a good signing for his old side if they end up losing Jesse Lingard.
Lingard has been brilliant for the Hammers since joining back in January, finding himself among the goals at the London Stadium.
However, the 28-year-old attacking midfielder is only at West Ham on loan after parent club Manchester United allowed him to temporarily leave in the winter transfer window.
Could Pereira replace Lingard?
Great alternative!
Not as good as Lingard
It means West Ham could be forced to watch Lingard return to Old Trafford in the summer. And if that does turn out to be the case, Deane believes Pereira could be a great alternative.
On the 25-year-old Brazilian, who came up with two goals and two assists against Chelsea last month, the ex-forward told TIF:
“If you look at how Pereira plays, it‘s very similar. Ok, he’s left footed, but he’s got a very good silky style of running, very good technically… [so] why not?
“I think West Ham have got Michail Antonio up front, who is very mobile, they’ve got pace in wide areas and he seems to fit into the kind of mould of how they want to play. So he would be a good signing if they can’t get Lingard.”
According to The Express, West Ham are interested in signing Pereira in the event that Lingard does leave, so the former Sporting Lisbon man moving to the London Stadium does look like a possibility.