Manchester United reportedly considered the idea of a swap deal with Flamengo involving Andreas Pereira and Joao Gomes.
Pereira fell down the pecking order at Old Trafford under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and was loaned to the Brasileiro side for the 2021-22 season, during which he became a key player.
The 26-year-old amassed eight goals and three assists in 53 appearances for Flamengo across all competitions and was widely expected to complete a permanent move to South America.
However, a deal for Pereira to stay at Flamengo fell through, and the Brazil international instead stayed in the Premier League with Fulham on a four-year contract.
The Brazilian Serie A side were known to be keen to strike a permanent deal for Pereira, and according to journalist Tim Vickery, an exchange with 21-year-old Gomes could have been on the cards.
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"It looked like they [United] might have been interested in him when Andreas Pereira was on loan from United at Flamengo," Vickery told talkSPORT.
"In the end [Pereira] ended up going to Fulham. There was speculation that in exchange for that deal they might take Joao Gomes, but they didn't."
Pereira has already established himself as an important player for Fulham boss Marco Silva, starting all seven of their Premier League games and contributing one assist so far.
Fellow midfielder Gomes has also been strongly linked with a switch to the English top flight in recent weeks, but Man United are seemingly already playing catch-up in the race for his signature.
The 21-year-old was recently asked about his favoured destination during an Instagram Live session, and he revealed that he would jump at the chance to represent Liverpool.
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"Liverpool are a team I'd play for. I have the greatest desire to play. Playing in the Champions League is my biggest dream and that of my family, my biggest dream in football," Gomes responded.
Liverpool were not originally in the market for a new midfielder in the summer transfer window, but a spate of injuries led Jurgen Klopp to approve a last-minute loan deal for Juventus' Arthur.
The Reds are not expected to make Arthur's stay permanent as they prepare to spend big on a new midfielder in 2023, with Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham thought to be a leading target.
Meanwhile, Gomes has contributed two goals and two assists from 52 appearances in all tournaments for Flamengo in the 2022 season, and he recently extended his contract with the South American giants until the summer of 2027.
Ben Knapton
