Manchester United is set to receive a welcomed transfer windfall in the upcoming January window, thanks to the sale of former player Andreas Pereira to Palmeiras. Pereira, who left United in 2022 after spending a decade at the club, initially joined Fulham. While he has played 100 games for Fulham, starting 15 of the 19 Premier League matches this season, he is now expected to move on despite his regular appearances.
The decision to drop Pereira from the starting lineup during Fulham’s 1-1 draw against Tottenham in December was reportedly due to “technical reasons,” but this came amid rumors that his absence could have been connected to an interview in which he called a potential move to Marseille “very cool.” Although Marseille made an unsuccessful bid of £20 million for Pereira in the summer, it was believed they would try again in January. However, Pereira is now set for a return to Brazil, following a loan spell with Flamengo in 2021.
According to Brazilian TV outlet TV Espirito de Porco, Palmeiras has reached an agreement with Fulham to sign Pereira for £18.2 million, which could rise to £20.7 million depending on clauses. A medical is reportedly scheduled, and the move is expected to go through soon.
As part of the deal when Pereira joined Fulham, Manchester United included a 20% sell-on clause. This means that United will receive approximately £3.6 million from the transfer. While this amount is relatively small, it could be crucial for Manchester United as they look to make moves in the January window. The windfall could aid in securing a loan deal for Randal Kolo Muani, helping United bolster their squad despite needing to offload players to improve financial flexibility under new manager Ruben Amorim’s guidance.
