Report provides positive update in West Ham’s Felipe Anderson pursuit

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West Ham United are reportedly trying to convince Lazio to let Felipe Anderson leave for the Premier League this summer.

Talk about West Ham lacking ambition, they could be about to shatter their transfer record for one of those most magical of things – a thrilling Brazilian forward.

According to the Guardian, West Ham will meet Lazio in Rome next week to discuss a deal to sign Felipe Anderson from the Serie A side, with new manager Manuel Pellegrini a big fan of a player he once tried to sign for Manchester City.

It is understood that West Ham will offer around £30 million with add-ons with Lazio, who are renowned for driving a hard bargain in negotiations, willing to sell at the right price. Sky Sports, however, believes this could be around £44 million.

But it seems that the easier part is out of the way. Gianluca di Marzio believes that Anderson is pushing for a move to the Premier League this summer, with the chances of him extending a contract that runs until 2020 becoming increasingly unlikely.

So West Ham could be edging closer to a player who would give the club that maverick brilliance they have lacked since the acrimonious departure of Dimitri Payet in January 2017.

Anderson might not have developed into the world class attacker his friend and former Sao Paolo teammate Neymar has become, but the 25-year-old is one of the most exciting forwards in Europe when in full flight.

Blessed with rapid pace and the ability to fly past full-backs at will, Anderson scored and assisted 18 goals in all competitions in 2017/18.