Manchester United have been trying to find a buyer for Andreas Pereira for many years now. But it seems that the man some fans dub 'pre-season Pirlo' could again be returning to Old Trafford after another spell on loan.
His most recent spell was at Flamengo, where he impressed playing as a deeper midfielder dictating the tempo of the game. It was expected that Flamengo would sign him permanently for around £8million, but according to recent reports, United and the Brazilian club are struggling to find a resolution and football director John Murtough has reportedly informed Pereira that he could be part of the club's plans next season under Erik ten Hag.
But why does no club want to sign Pereira, or any United player for that matter? Is it just another example of United's lack of ability in navigating the transfer market?
READ MORE: What the Manchester United dressing room has made of Erik ten Hag's appointment
Pereira has made 75 appearances for the United first-team, scoring four goals — most of these coming in the 2018/19 season and the 2019/20 season. But since he made his debut, he has also spent four seasons away on loan.
He has had temporary moves to Granada, Valencia, Lazio and Flamengo and he has impressed in fits and starts for these clubs. But United remain unable to offload him on a permanent basis.
United have a problematic wage structure and this means that many players are earning too much money compared to their respective ability. It's been reported that Pereira earns around £53k a week, which may be more than most clubs are willing to offer him.
There is also the issue of the price tag; £8m seems reasonable for a player of Pereira's ability but many fans will remember that in the deal that saw him move
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