Leeds should move for Brazilian star this summer, he destroyed Tuchel’s Chelsea – opinion

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Leeds United should make a move for Matheus Pereira this summer after rules regarding transfer visas were relaxed by the Football Association (FA).

Previously, clubs across the top four divisions in English football were unable to sign players who failed to meet the Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) points threshold, which was based on a number of factors.

These included international appearances at senior or youth level for the incoming player, the quality of the selling club/standard of league they are moving from and their number of career minutes.

An inability to satisfy that threshold meant the UK Government would block the transfer, however new rules confirmed by the FA state that Premier League and Championship clubs are now able to sign up to four players who fail to meet the aforementioned criteria.

Prior to the relaxation of the rules, Al-Hilal and former West Bromwich Albion midfielder Pereira was someone who came under that category, having never been capped by Brazil at any level.

Leeds should target Matheus Pereira

Now that is no longer a stumbling block, Pereira is exactly the type of player Leeds need with a creative number 10 to replace Pablo Hernandez still to be found.

Pereira has kind of lost his way a bit since moving to Saudi Arabia and was actually loaned out to Al Wahda last season, but has already proven to be a quality player in English football.

During West Brom’s promotion season alongside Leeds in 2019/20, Pereira scored eight goals and provided an incredible 20 assists, before then joining the club permanently.

Despite the Baggies’ struggles in the Premier League, Pereira had no such problems in adapting, netting 11 times and registering six assists.

That included a stand-out performance in a 5-2 away win at Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea, where he scored twice and laid on a brace of assists against a side who would go onto become European champions two months later.

Leeds have not had anyone in midfield who can put up those types of numbers since Hernandez’s departure and that type of player will be needed to unlock deep defences in the Championship next season.

Pereira could be the man to do exactly that.