According to Italian Sports Journalist and Reporter Fabrizio Romano, Lazio have opened talks with Manchester United to sign Andreas Pereira. While negotiations are said to have just started for the 24-year-old Brazilian midfielder, with the Summer Transfer Window closing on October 5, 2020, the Biancocelesti and Red Devils will most certainly be in contact on a regular basis (for the time being) as they try to sort out the terms of the deal; as it stands, a loan with an option to buy (set at €10-15 million) or a loan with a buyout option (set at €10-15 million) remain the two most likely possibilities.
Pereira joined United in 2012 for a minimal fee after brief spells with the youth clubs of Lommel United (2002–2005) and PSV Eindhoven (2005-2011). Since then, he has worked his way through the youth ranks (U18 and U23 teams) before making his debut with the first team in 2014; after spending both the 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons on loan at Spanish La Liga side Granada CF, he has since remained in Manchester, making a total of 62 appearances between the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons.
However, following the arrival of Donny van de Beek, the player’s chances of first-team minutes under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer look increasingly slim; he has been left out of the squad for United’s first two Premier League matches of the season. As Lazio are looking to further reinforce their midfield – after signing the likes of Gonzalo Escalante (on a free transfer) and Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro (from Salernitana) – and as Pereira would like to play consistently (preferably with a top tier club in Europe) this may be a move that satisfies all parties involved; especially due to the fact that the Biancocelesti are also in the UEFA Champions League.
