Fulham have rejected an offer worth up to £16.5m from Brazilian club Palmeiras for Andreas Pereira.

The 29-year-old Brazil midfielder has started 15 of Fulham’s 19 Premier League games this season, with the west Londoners eighth in the table and pushing to qualify for Europe.

After playing in the first 12 games Pereira was dropped because of a “technical decision”, according to manager Marco Silva after the 1-1 draw at Tottenham in early December.

Silva denied his absence was related to an interview in which Pereira was quoted as saying it would be “very cool” to play for French club Marseille under former Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi.

Pereira called the interview “malicious and inaccurate” on his Instagram account.

But his future at Fulham – where he has been since joining from Manchester United for £10m in 2022 – remains in doubt as sources in Brazil expect another bid.

Meanwhile, sources at Marseille say they have cooled their interest in Pereira.