Former West Bromwich Albion midfielder Matheus Pereira is attracting interest from England again after a standout year in Brazil, with clubs in the Premier League and Championship tracking his form at Cruzeiro.
The 29-year-old has become one of the most productive attacking players in Brazil’s top flight in 2025, and reports in South America say English sides have made enquiries about a possible move.
Cruzeiro, however, are already moving to protect their position and want Pereira tied down long term.
dia de @Cruzeiro! Vamos, nação azul 💙🦊 pic.twitter.com/2jFnjhLqgY
— Matheus Pereira (@MatheusPereira) October 26, 2025
Pereira’s Numbers Have Put English Clubs On Alert
Pereira has been a driving force for Cruzeiro this season and is currently leading several creative metrics among midfielders in the Brasileirão. He ranks first for shots on target with 23, chances created from open play with 51, successful passes in the final third with 366, and duels won with 162.
Those are elite outputs for a player operating mainly between the lines, and they have not gone unnoticed outside Brazil.
For English scouts, none of this is a surprise. Pereira was a key figure for West Bromwich Albion across the 2019 to 2021 period, producing 43 direct goal contributions in 77 appearances in league and cup. That spell, which included promotion-level influence in the Championship and flashes in the Premier League, built the reputation that is now driving fresh interest in bringing him back to England.
🚨 Jogadores com 50+ chances criadas com bola rolando no Brasileirão 2025:
🇧🇷 Matheus Pereira: 51
Fim da lista.
🗞️ @R10Score pic.twitter.com/O502d5ApBj
— Gols do Brasileirão ⚽️🇧🇷 (@golsdobrasil1) October 27, 2025
The current level in Brazil has simply reopened the file. Clubs are looking at creativity, ball progression, and end product at a time when attacking midfielders who can both carry and deliver the final pass are at a premium.
Cruzeiro Want To Extend, But Clock Is Ticking
Despite the noise from England, there is no indication Pereira is agitating to force a move. Cruzeiro have a meeting planned with his representatives in early December to discuss a new contract running to 2028, and the player’s camp are pushing for an automatic extension clause that could take that to 2029.
The message from Belo Horizonte is clear: he is central to the project, and they do not want to lose him.
There is urgency behind that stance. Pereira’s current deal runs until mid-2026, which means that by the end of next season he will be in a position to sign a pre-contract elsewhere. Cruzeiro want to avoid entering that final stretch without protection, especially with English sides already circling.
From the player’s side, the preference for now is said to be staying where he is playing his best football, leading Cruzeiro on the pitch and being the focal point in Belo Horizonte rather than rolling the dice on a mid-season move back to England. But the financial reality of Premier League interest, and the fact Championship clubs are also monitoring the situation, keeps the story alive.
If Cruzeiro cannot secure that long extension on their terms, January and next summer immediately become interesting. An attacking midfielder with Pereira’s output, recent Brazil national team recognition, and proven record in English football does not come on the market often, and both sides know it.
