Andreas Pereira has given Fulham cause for concern after admitting he would find it "very cool" to join Roberto De Zerbi's Marseille.
The Ligue 1 club were interested in Pereira over the summer, as were Nottingham Forest. The Brazil midfielder ended up staying at Craven Cottage, though, and has started all 12 Premier League matches under Marco Silva this term.
Pereira joined Fulham from Manchester United in 2022, having spent more than a decade on the books of the Red Devils after joining aged 16. He played Champions League and Europa League football for United, and a move to Marseille could offer the opportunity of more action in one of those competitions.
Marseille finished eighth in Ligue 1 last season, but at the time of writing they sit third under new boss De Zerbi. The ex-Brighton manager has already brought in several players from the Premier League, including former United forward Mason Greenwood and Spurs loanee Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, and Pereira could end up becoming the next arrival.
“From outside [England] arrived [an offer] from Marseille," Pereira told PL Brasil (via the Standard). We talked, and unfortunately it didn't work. In the last few days [of the summer window], also [there was interest] from Nottingham Forest.
“It would be very cool [to go to Marseille], the way [Roberto] De Zerbi plays soccer. I was watching it with good eyes, but let's see now in January or at the end of the season if there will be a transfer or if I will stay at Fulham.
“Sometimes, I see something and I get excited to talk to [agent Giuliano Bertolucci]. I ask, ‘Is this happening and you know?' And he always says no. I think: ‘Damn, it's complicated.’”
Pereira has scored nine goals in close to 100 Fulham games, netting once this season in a defeat against Manchester City. He has held down a starting spot in West London, already playing more times for Silva's side than he ever did for United, and recognises it was the right decision to leave Old Trafford.
“I think it was the best decision I made in my life,” he told the Standard in August. “To come to live and play here, to enjoy my football, to get back into the national team with great players, to enjoy my football in the Premier League, leaving is the best decision I made.
“The time I was there, I really enjoyed being at a fantastic club. But I don’t regret leaving. We [the players in my situation] have this desire to show it was wrong that we didn’t play. With everyone’s help around me [at Fulham], I achieved a great season.
“[Marco Silva] is responsible for me coming to Fulham. I will always be grateful for everything he has done for me. I have to show the trust he has in me by keeping doing what I am doing. You can dream about Europe, we should dream of Europe. It’s a good thing to start the season thinking about this kind of objective.”