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This article is part of Football FanCast's In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets...

After Slaven Bilic made calls for the club to get to work in the transfer market last week, it finally looks as though they're dipping their hands into their pockets.

So far, only Filip Krovinovic has arrived on loan but forward Kenneth Zohore has walked through the doors after Albion agreed an £8m fee with Cardiff.

They're meanwhile pursuing a deal for Rotherham's Semi Ajayi whilst they could make a further loan addition from Liga NOS.

Last week, it was revealed by Portuguese outlet Record that the Baggies were trying to take Sporting's Matheus Pereira on a temporary basis.

The Brazilian spent the 2018/19 campaign on loan at Nurnberg in the Bundesliga. Whilst in Germany, the forward played all across the front line, featuring on both flanks whilst also popping up in the middle of the pitch.

Yet, it was out wide where he looked most comfortable, scoring three goals and also assisting two strikes for his teammates.

The 23-year-old only played 19 times, but there is evidence to suggest he could solve a considerable problem.

 

Last term, the Baggies were lacking much in wide areas besides Harvey Barnes who was recalled by Leicester in January. He contributed double figures in terms of goals whilst averaging 1.7 dribbles per game during his half a season at the Hawthorns.

No one who played on a regular basis achieved more, however. Kyle Edwards averaged two dribbles per match but only made three starts so it would be unfair to make a comparison with Albion's academy graduate.

However, by signing Pereira, he could put this issue to bed.

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In the German top-flight he made 2.1 dribbles per game showing his dynamic qualities in one of the top five leagues in European football.

Although his goals contribution was fairly average, he provided plenty of threat to opposition defences.

Twice last term, he made six dribbles in one game, causing multiple problems for both Schalke and Bayer Leverkusen.

Pereira meanwhile scored against Bayern Munich over the course of the campaign whilst making three dribbles against fellow heavyweights Borussia Dortmund.

On that evidence, there is a reason to imply he'd do well in the Championship, thus helping Bilic to end one of West Brom's lingering issues.