Jamie Redknapp raved about West Ham playmaker Felipe Anderson while picking him as one of his ten Premier League stars to watch this season.
The pundit shared that his spies had been impressed by the Brazilian’s pre-season displays as he has been in red-hot form, and Redknapp went on to describe the Hammers winger as a superstar in waiting.
Redknapp then claimed, while apologising to West Ham fans, that he thinks Anderson will enjoy a stand-out season in his 2019/20 season and as a result, big clubs will come calling with £60million-plus bids next summer.
“My spies at West Ham have raved about Anderson’s pre-season performances. Those who work with him day in, day out say he is in red-hot form,” said Redknapp in an article for the Daily Mail.
“The Brazilian is a superstar in waiting and I expect we’ll see that side of him this season.
“After losing Marko Arnautovic to the Chinese Super League, West Ham have a void to fill in attack.
“They have signed Sebastien Haller for £45m but I also think Anderson, who cost £36m when he joined from Lazio last summer, is capable of reaching that next level.
“Sorry West Ham fans, but I think we’ll see Anderson enjoy a stand-out season and that big clubs will come calling with £60m-plus bids next summer.”
OPINION
Redknapp clearly is a member of Anderson’s fan club at this point, as the 2019/20 season hasn’t even gotten underway and this is the second time he has raved about him. The former Premier League midfielder previously heaped praise on the 26-year-old in the Daily Mail’s club-by-club guide for the newspaper last weekend, and in that short space of time, he has become even more in awe of the player. Redknapp previously suggested West Ham fans should be nervous about big clubs swooping for Anderson if he did well in his upcoming campaign, but now he has gone one step further. The pundit claimed he believes Anderson will shine brightly and has even stated on the record that bids of £60m+ are surely on their way. The 26-year-old was a sensation at the London Stadium last season, he scored nine goals, assisted four and created 10 big chances in his 36 Premier League outings (Source: Premier League). Anderson also proved how useful he was to the Hammers’ defence, and how hard he was willing to work, as he made 89 tackles, 41 interceptions, and blocked 17 shots, which seems ridiculously good numbers for an attack-minded player (Source: Premier League). So with that in mind, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Anderson ends up attracting ‘big’ clubs by the summer as with him now settled in England, he’ll likely be able to build on his displays from last season.