West Ham are closing in on the signing of Lazio forward Felipe Anderson, according to a reliable journalist.
Gazzetta dello Sport correspondent Nicolo Schira reported on his personal Twitter account late on Tuesday night that the Premier League club are in advanced talks with the Brazil international over a five-year contract.
Schira explained that the deal is being worked on by transfer fixer Kia Joorabchian after West Ham tabled a £33million bid for the player.
#FelipeAnderson is really close to #WestHam! He’s in advanced talks for 5-year contract. Hammers offered €38 million to #Lazio. Kia is working on this deal #WHUFC #transfers
— Nicolò Schira (@NicoSchira) June 5, 2018
OPINION
West Ham fans have been sceptical that their club are capable of pushing through a signing that would smash their transfer record to smithereens. But they will be greatly encouraged that a deal for Anderson is a genuine possibility given the update from well-connected Italy-based journalist Schira, who has a solid track record when it comes to reporting transfers. Anderson would certainly represent a marquee signing after making his name at Lazio, where he scored eight goals and supplied 10 assists from his 32 appearances in 2017-18 after missing the opening half of the campaign due to injury. Since signing for the Italian side in 2013 for £6.8million, the right-sided flyer has scored 34 goals and made 42 assists rom 177 games. Reports in Italy have suggested West Ham would need to pay well north of £40million to get their man. They won’t pay that, it is safe to say, but there is at least hope some middle ground can be found over what would be a real statement signing.
