New reports are claiming that Lazio’s Brazilian star Felipe Anderson is close to joining West Ham, with what may be the final talks taking place today.
The Hammers have been trying to bring in Lazio’s attacking midfielder since new manager Manuel Pellegrini was appointed manager, but the deal has failed to materialise until now.
However, reports from Italy are saying that Lazio has already accepted an offer in the range of £26million, with more talks being held on Thursday. The Brazilian may be Pellegrini’s first in a series of signings as the famous Chilean manager tries to make West Ham a competitive team once again.
Felipe Anderson has been a key player for the Rome-based team for a few seasons now. He has been a target of many European giants in the past thanks to his ability to set-up and score goals with ease. Although he spent most of the last season sidelined with injuries, he showed his quality every time he stepped on the pitch.
New West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini is reportedly talking to the club’s hierarchy every day about his transfer plans. With quite a resume behind him and leading teams such as Manchester City and Real Madrid in the past, many players are said to be relishing the opportunity to work with the manager again. He’ll certainly be a breath of fresh air for the Hammers, who ended the last season in a disappointing 13th place in the Premier League.
Felipe Anderson may be an ideal player for Pellegrini’s team. They’ve managed to score only 48 goals in the 2017-2018 season, with Javier Hernandez and Marko Arnautovic failing to find the net constantly. The growing frustration about the club’s unimpressive results led to the fans invading the pitch in March during the Burnley game, asking for the board’s resignation in a move that could have had terrible consequences. Pressured by the fans, the board appointed Pellegrini as a manager in late May and are now looking to bolster the squad with quality players.
Besides Felipe Anderson, Pellegrini is reportedly looking to bring Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, highly-rated youngster Issa Diop, who is on the verge of joining the Hammers, and even PSG outcast Javier Pastore. The club has about £65million to spend and Pellegrini is looking at the best options.
Felipe Anderson is said to be keen on switching Lazio for West Ham, relishing the opportunity to play in the Premier League. He has been looking for a way out of Lazio for a while now and West Ham may represent the best option for the 25-year-old Brazilian. If Italian media outlets are to be believed, the Brazilian may land in London as soon as today.
West Ham’s chances for the upcoming season in the Premier League aren’t so great. As redbet sportsbook shows, they are stuck behind the obvious favourites Man City, Liverpool and Manchester United, and even Arsenal and Southampton. However, if Pellegrini gets his targets soon, West Ham fans may have a season to look forward to.
