Crystal Palace could edge closer towards another exciting addition this summer after receiving a boost in their pursuit of West Bromwich Albion midfielder Matheus Pereira.
The highly-rated Brazilian has been linked with a move to the Eagles in recent weeks along with several other Premier League sides following a string of impressive performances last season.
However, persistent speculation over Pereira’s immediate future led to new West Brom manager Valerien Ismael questioning his commitment over the weekend (as reported by the Leicester Mercury).
“He was clear he wants to leave. He is not committed to the Championship and not committed to us. I said I accept this decision, but I have to take my decision, and now we need to solve the situation, ” Ismael said.
The former Barnsley boss’s bold claims didn’t go down well with Pereira, though, who responded with a passionate statement of his own.
“I remained silent and was not going to address anything until after the transfer window out of respect for the fans and my teammates, however after being called ‘not committed’ I felt extremely disrespected as a professional, I’ve been living off football since I was 12 years old, I chose to give up family time and ordinary fun to chase after a dream of a better future for myself and those around me…
“I want to leave, I want to seek new experiences, but want to do this in a fair and correct manner. I will be forever grateful to WBA, to its fans and to every single professional who works at the club and who welcomed me with open arms,” the statement read.