West Ham are only a ‘final handshake’ away from completing the £26.4million signing of Lazio forward Felipe Anderson today, according to Sky Sports Italy.
The broadcaster claim in an update on their website that the one-time Brazil international’s potential move to the London Stadium ‘should be closed within a very short space of time’.
Sky Sports report Lazio sporting director Igli Tare was due to be in London today to thrash out the final details with the West Ham management, with a 20 per cent sell-on clause incorporated into the deal.
OPINION
Sky Sports Italy are as reliable as it gets when it comes to transfers involving Serie A players and it appears only a matter of time now before Anderson is presented as a West Ham signing as the club work on sealing a series of major deals in the first month of the window. The right-sided forward will certainly be a welcome addition to the Hammers ranks, given his pedigree and track record. In 177 Lazio matches, Anderson has scored 34 goals and supplied 42 assists, and his 2017-18 tallies (eight goals and 10 assists) were not too shabby even though he missed half of the season due to injury. Standing at 5ft 7in (source: Transfermarkt), Anderson is diminutive but very crafty. He is also not shy of hard work, and his ability should provide a new dimension on the right flank next season, particularly if he is paired with super-speedy new boy Ryan Fredericks, the first West Ham summer signing.
