Manchester United midfielder Andreas Pereira is closing in on a move to Premier League newcomers Fulham.
The Brazilian is making a swift exit after a season long loan spell with Flamengo.
The Craven Cottage side have agreed a £10m deal – including add-ons for the midfielder who last played for United in August 2020.
With a year remaining on his contract at the Theatre of Dreams, getting Pereira off the wage bill and recouping a decent transfer fee for the former PSV Eindhoven youngster represents good business.
By the time the new season starts it will have been nearly eight years since Pereira made his first-team debut for Manchester United, which came under Louis van Gaal.
The versatile midfielder came on as a substitute at half time in the embarrassing 4-0 League Cup second round defeat to MK Dons.
With Pereira’s United career drawing to a close, we thought it was time to have a look back at the Manchester United XI v MK Dons.
Manchester United XI v MK Dons
Once Pereira’s seemingly imminent move to Fulham is completed, David de Gea will be the only remaining player from United’s 18-man squad that were pulled apart at the Stadium MK.
Former Belgium Under-21 international Marnick Vermijl, who is currently playing for Belgian third tier side Thes Sport, made just his second first-team appearance for the Reds against the League One side.
The 30-year-old, who had loan spells with Preston North End and Sheffield Wednesday, made his United debut in the League Cup under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Jonny Evans and Michael Keane were van Gaal’s chosen centre-back pairing, but they couldn’t stop Karl Robinson’s side from running riot. Will Grigg was on fire and Evans’ compatriot scored MK Dons’ first two goals.
Evans, who captained the side against MK Dons, made 198 appearances for the Reds, winning three Premier Leagues and the Champions League.
The Northern Irishman, 34, who won the FA Cup with Leicester City in 2021, will be hoping to have an injury free season for the Foxes in 2022-23.
Everton defender Keane made five first team appearances for the Reds, the last of which came in the mauling in Buckinghamshire.
The 12-time England international impressed during his time with Burnley and the Toffees splashed out a then record-equalling £30m in 2017 to sign the centre-halve.
Reece James, no not the Chelsea one, made his solitary first-team appearance for the Reds in the annihilation against MK Dons.
The 28-year-old left-back, who has had spells with Wigan, Sunderland and Doncaster, has just signed for Sheffield Wednesday.
Van Gaal unleashed an experienced midfield pairing of Shinji Kagawa and Anderson, but the pair were given the run around by MK Dons wonderkid Dele Alli.
Kagawa, who came off injured after 20 minutes and was replaced by Adnan Januzaj, never played for United after that appearance and he re-joined Borussia Dortmund on transfer deadline day in 2014.
The Japanese legend, who was signed by Sir Alex, is currently playing in the Belgian Juplier Pro League with Sint-Truiden at the age of 33.
Anderson’s last appearance for the Reds came just four days after the humiliation against the League One side.
Capable of producing magic moments under Sir Alex, the 2008 Golden Boy winner joined Fiorentina on loan before returning to Brazil on a permanent deal with Internacional.
The nine-time Brazil international, who seemingly had the world at his feet, retired in 2019.
Occupying the wing roles were speed demon Saidy Janko and former Crewe Alexandra whizkid Nick Powell.
Like James, Janko, a six-time Gambian international made his only first-team appearance for the twenty-time league champions in the chastening evening against a side in the third tier of English football.
Janko, who is contracted to Spanish side Real Valladolid – with Brazilian legend Ronaldo being the majority owner, has joined Bundesliga side Bochum on a season-long loan.
Powell, who scored on his United debut against Wigan, made nine first team appearances and has been at Stoke City for three years since joining from the Latics.
Despite having experienced duo Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez leading the line for Van Gaal, United drew a blank against the Football League side.
Like Anderson, Welbeck’s last outing for the Reds came against Burnley just days after the MK Dons massacre before heading to Arsenal. The Manchester United academy graduate has scored 12 Premier League across his two seasons at Brighton & Hove Albion.
The ‘Little Pea’ joined Real Madrid on a season-long loan following his appearance against MK Dons, and after three further appearances under van Gaal he signed for Bayer Leverkusen.
Spells with West Ham and Sevilla followed for Mexico’s all-time top scorer who is currently playing in the MLS with LA Galaxy.
