An update has emerged on Everton target Andreas Pereira, regarding his thoughts on a move to Goodison Park.

What's the talk?

According to TNT Sports, via Sport Witness, Manchester United midfielder Andreas Pereira has decided to snub Everton in favour of a return to his home country to sign for Flamengo.

The report claims the Toffees made an offer to sign the Brazilian this month, but he has decided that playing for Flamengo is his best chance of making the Brazil squad for the World Cup next year.

Benitez will be gutted

This update comes as a killer blow for Everton as it seemingly rules them out of the running for the central midfielder as it stands. Of course, never say never in football as Flamengo are yet to agree a deal with United and he has not officially signed for the Brazilian outfit, but it is not looking promising at the time of writing.

Rafa Benitez will be gutted that he is now unlikely to get the chance to work with Pereira at Goodison Park next season. The issue for Everton is that he has made this decision based on his chances to make the national team, given he would be back in his home country, and this is not something the Toffees can change. It is not as 'simple' as Marcel Brands offering him more money to come to the club, so it is out of their control.

The Spaniard, Benitez, will be disappointed as he could have been a fine addition to his Premier League squad for this season. Upon sanctioning his loan move to Lazio, United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer claimed that the midfielder is developing and only the signing of Bruno Fernandes stopped him from being a regular for the Red Devils. He said:

"They’re a big club, Lazio. Andreas needs to play regularly.

"He started last season really well and played loads of games. You could see the confidence growing and see him developing but, after we signed Bruno, that position that Andy played in was taken because Bruno came in and had such an impact. We decided this is what was best for Andreas.”

The £49k-per-week gem played 25 times for United in the league last season, scoring once and providing three assists. He also averaged a solid WhoScored rating of 6.78 in six Europa League appearances for the English giants, highlighting the quality he is able to produce when given regular minutes.

At the age of 25, the £7.2m-rated ace is heading into the peak years of his career and Benitez could have enjoyed getting the best out of him in the next few years. Instead, he appears set to return to Brazil and not to Goodison Park, and that will leave the Toffees boss gutted.

AND in other news, Everton make contact for "tremendous" 6 ft 3 machine, Benitez would love him...