Transfer Centre

Transfer Rumours: Andreas Pereira to Aston Villa, Robin Le Normand to Atletico Madrid, Vitao to West Ham United

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 07 June 2024

Transfer Rumours: Pereira to Aston Villa, Le Normand to Atletico, Vitao to West Ham

Sports Mole rounds up the latest transfer rumours including Andreas Pereira to Aston Villa, Robin Le Normand to Atletico Madrid and Vitao to West Ham United.

Aston Villa are reportedly interested in signing Fulham playmaker Andreas Pereira this summer.

The 28-year-old has spent the last two seasons at Craven Cottage since joining from Manchester United, scoring eight goals and registering 15 assists in 82 appearances across all tournaments.

Pereira contributed to 10 goals (three goals, seven assists) in 37 Premier League games for Fulham last season and his form has been rewarded with two call-ups to the Brazil squad since the turn of the year.

According to Brazilian news outlet Globo Esporte, Aston Villa are one of three Premier League clubs along with Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United who have expressed an interest in Pereira.

The report adds that Pereira, who has two years remaining on his contract at Craven Cottage, is unlikely to remain at Fulham next season and is set to hold talks about his future after representing Brazil at the 2024 Copa America.

Pereira has recently been spending his down time with Brazilian teammate and Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz, whose own future at Villa Park is believed to be uncertain amid reported interest from clubs including Juventus.

Internacional's Vitao in action with Bahia's Oscar Estupinan on April 13, 2024 © Reuters

Staying in the Premier League and West Ham United have reportedly had a bid rejected for Brazilian defender Vitao.

The 24-year-old is currently on loan in his homeland with Internacional, where he has made over 100 appearances since 2022, and he is set to join the club permanently when his contract at parent club Shakhtar Donetsk expires at the end of this month.

However, Vitao is now the subject of interest from a number of European clubs ahead of the summer transfer window, with West Ham said to be one of three teams that have tabled an offer.

According to Brazilian news outlet Revista Colorada, West Ham have seen a £6.8m bid turned down by Internacional, while Villarreal and Real Betis have also had offered rebuffed, the latter failing with a package totalling to £8.5m.

Internacional are said to be holding out for a fee of at least £10m for the central defender, as 20% of any sale will go to the player's representatives.

West Ham's interest in Vitao comes after they allegedly failed to reach an agreement with Flamengo centre-back Fabricio Bruno over contract terms, but they are on the verge of signing Palmeiras star Luis Guilherme for a reported £25m.

Real Sociedad's Robin Le Normand looks dejected after the match on January 25, 2023 © Reuters

Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid are reportedly in talks to sign Real Sociedad centre-back Robin Le Normand.

The 27-year-old has made 221 appearances for the La Liga club since and including his debut in 2018 and has caught the eye of a number of top European teams in recent seasons.

Indeed, Premier League trio Arsenal, Man United and Liverpool are all believed to be keeping tabs on Le Normand, while Champions League winners Real Madrid have also been credited with an interest.

However, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Atletico have opened club-to-club talks with Real Sociedad to discuss a proposed summer deal for Le Normand, who is one of their top transfer targets.

Romano adds that Le Normand is keen to join Atletico, who are looking to negotiate a fee lower than the defender's €50m release clause.

Le Normand, who has two years remaining on his Real Sociedad contract, is a 10-cap Spain international and is currently away with the national team in preparation for Euro 2024 this summer.