Manchester United could be set to receive a significant boost to their transfer budget this summer after Andreas Pereira was linked with a move to Fenerbahce.

What’s the story?

According to Fred Caldeira, a journalist for Brazilian outlet TNT Sports, the Turkish giants are interested in signing the 25-year-old midfielder over the coming months, but only if United lower their €25m (£21.2m) asking price.

The report also stated that an unnamed Premier League side is keen to secure Pereira’s services, with the Brazilian said to be focused on a club who can offer him regular starts after experiencing several loan spells in recent years.

He’s been shocking

After returning from a 12-month stint in La Liga with Valencia during the 2017/18 campaign, Pereira was rewarded with a spot in United’s first team setup the following season.

He initially struggled for game-time under previous manager Jose Mourinho but was given an opportunity to shine by his successor, making 15 appearances under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the second half of the campaign.

The Norwegian kept faith with the midfielder throughout 2019/20, starting him on 25 occasions in all competitions.

However, Pereira failed to take his opportunity at Old Trafford. The attacking midfielder scored just two goals and provided only four assists, falling way below the standard required of a United midfielder. Also, his 6.55 WhoScored rating for the season was well inferior to midfield colleagues Bruno Fernandes, Nemanja Matic, Scott McTominay and Fred.

His shocking performances saw Solskjaer ship him out on loan to Italian outfit Lazio last season, but he failed to make an impact at the Stadio Olimpico and is once again looking for a way out of his United nightmare.

With the ongoing pandemic continuing to restrict football clubs' ability to purchase their top targets in the current transfer window, offloading unwanted fringe players is the easiest way to boost the coffers. Therefore, Solskjaer must brutally axe the £7.2m-rated Pereira this summer, allowing United room to manoeuvre in the transfer market and potentially financing a deal for a new defensive midfielder.

Pereira put himself in the shop window with a stunning strike against Brentford in a pre-season friendly in midweek to highlight his technical ability, meaning that potential buyers should be easier to attract.

He is undoubtedly a talented player as that goal showed, but the midfielder doesn’t have the consistent ability to succeed at United, and Solskjaer must move him on ahead of the upcoming campaign in order to fund moves for potential upgrades.

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