Sam Allardyce could not accomplish his usual feat and save West Brom from relegation.
Their demotion is more than deserved and only one player in his squad has justified a Premier League stay – that is Matheus Pereira.
Confirmed and set in stone, West Brom could only enjoy a single season back in the English top-flight, having officially been relegated following their 3-1 loss to Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday night.
The highest the Baggies can finish now is one place higher in18th place. Sam Allardyce and his men join Sheffield United and Fulham as the three sides formally demoted to the EFL Championship.
It took them [West Brom] two seasons, a few managers, and an outstanding loan deal in Pereira to get back to England’s big stage.
𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕒𝕘𝕚𝕔𝕚𝕒𝕟 🎩🪄
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) May 8, 2021
Make sure you vote for @MatheusPereira, who is up for the @EASPORTSFIFA @premierleague Player of the Month award.
Sadly, this same player was not enough quality on his own to keep the Baggies up in the Premier League.
And now, to rub salt in the wounds of those at The Hawthorns, they are at high risk of losing arguably their best player at the club.
Matheus Pereira has the quality to thrive in any Premier League side
Many wouldn’t agree and many would but Matheus Pereira has been one of the best newcomers this season in the Premier League.
The player who recently turned 25 in May, has been the club’s biggest goal threat over the past couple of campaigns.
In their promotional run in the EFL, he managed to end the season with the highest goal contribution with 25 goals and assists.
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Following promotion, West Brom had to work on a permanent deal for Pereira. They succeeded and signed him from Sporting Lisbon in a transaction said to be worth £9m.
Move on a season and in his maiden EPL campaign, he is still the top Baggie in the game. He again boasts the best goal contribution in the team and by a long mile.
He is the only player to hit double figures this term with 11 goals and five assists across all competitions. The closest numbers to him? Callum Robinson with six goals scored, most of them coming against Chelsea.
This is why he [Pereira] is on route to being named West Brom’s Player of the Season for the second time in a row and why he will not be a West Brom player after the summer transfer window.
Sam Allardyce already knows Matheus Pereira could be on his way out of The Hawthorns
Allardyce knows exactly what it means now that his side has failed at EPL survival.
The risk of losing your best players is almost inevitable – especially a player who has just banged in 11 goals and five assists for the season.
The Brazilian will be a great addition to any of the top-six teams or teams that have beaten the drop.
West Brom have not even made him available but acknowledges there will be little to no hope in keeping him. However, they do want him to stay at the club and help them get promotion back into the EPL.
Sam Allardyce on Matheus Pereira and his potential summer exit:
"There’s a price for everybody, isn’t there – everybody has a price. Whatever price the club thinks Matheus is worth, if anybody goes above that then I would think it would be very difficult for him to say no. You wouldn’t know what Matheus is thinking after this season. Certainly in the latter part of the season when he’s proved himself to be more than comfortable at this level. We’ve got a lot of conclusions to come to – well the club has – on what the situation is. We’d like Matheus to stay but you don’t know what he’s thinking and you don’t know what other clubs are thinking after the way he’s performed. (Via: expressandstar.com)"
The only upside to all of this, it will be a profitable sale for West Brom. Having only paid £9m and him becoming their leading man, his price tag has tripled and we could see a move happen for £30m-plus.
Clubs interested in signing Matheus Pereira from West Brom are mostly Premier League clubs.
So far, Aston Villa and Manchester United are the two Premier League outfits surfacing when a Pereira transfer is in the discussion. Outside of the Premier League, Barcelona are said to be interested but nothing concrete has come of the Barca rumours.
Villa are said to be favourites of the lot as they search for somebody to either play alongside Jack Grealish and/or take over from him when he is injured or if he was to sign for a top-six club. Ollie Watkins is another Villa man rumoured with exit talks with Liverpool linked to the striker.
All English Premier League
"Aston Villa are reportedly ‘monitoring’ West Brom star Matheus Pereira amid claims the Baggies are gearing up to make big decisions over their squad in the summer. Pereira produced a fabulous performance against Dean Smith’s side on Sunday night as the West Midlands rivals fought out a 2-2 draw. Pereira’s contribution this season has been noticed by several Premier League sides amid fear Albion face a fight to keep hold of their prized asset as they prepare for life back in the Championship. (Via: birminghammail.co.uk)"
Man United and Ole were only said to be monitoring the player during April. They too are searching for quality options to provide better depth at Old Trafford.
They are also at risk of losing Paul Pogba and might be a midfielder short come the summer. With their current stock at the club, it’s hard to see the West Brom attacker getting regular game time.
One thing is certain for Matheus Pereira, he will not be short of options and will undoubtedly be a quality addition to any Premier League side.