Fulham midfielder Andreas Pereira is poised to join Palmeiras for a fee of around £8.6m, according to various reports.

The Brazilian international watched the Whites’ draw 1-1 with his former club Manchester United yesterday afternoon from the Craven Cottage balcony and ESPN Brasil report that the 29 year-old will sign a five-year contract with Verdão once the payment structure and terms of the deal are finalised. Fulham turned down an offer of approximately £17m from Palmeiras in January, but are now happy to sell the wantaway midfielder as he has entered the final year of his current contract.

Pereira’s departure could free up funds for Fulham to enter the transfer market themselves as Marco Silva has demanded. He has made 110 appearances in three years with the Whites, scoring 19 goals, but disappointed the Fulham hierarchy by publicly discussing the possibility of leaving the Cottage last autumn. A return to his homeland and regular first-team football may help Pereira achieve his dream of representing Brazil at next summer’s World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.