Juventus are being urged to bring Felipe Anderson to the Serie A giants three years after West Ham United sold the former Premier League misfit for just £2.5 million.
While David Moyes’ reputation as a manager incapable of getting the best out of technically-gifted, rather mercurial footballers is a little overblown – just look at the way Lucas Paqueta and Mohammed Kudus have performed since arriving in England – the manner in which Felipe Anderson’s West Ham United career ground to a halt arguably doesn’t reflect too well on the veteran Scot.
West Ham accepted a bid of just £2.5 million for Anderson back in 2021, the Brazilian returning to Lazio three years after the London giants stumped up a club-record fee of £36 million.
That Anderson is now being tipped to join Juventus after rediscovering his form in Italy – he would be ‘an excellent signing’ according to one 1982 World Cup winner – is something of a slap in the face to those who felt that his potential would never be fulfilled.
Former West Ham United man could join Juventus
“I would take him (at Juventus) straight away!” Bianconeri legend Franco Causio tells Tuttosport. “I hope Juve can close (a deal) for him.
“He remains one of the few players in Serie A capable of leaping past his opponents with ease and thus creating numerical superiority in the opponent’s half of the field thanks to his dribbling. He would be an excellent signing.”
Anderson appears determined not to extend his contract at Lazio, and could therefore become the latest in a series of high-profile freebie signings at the Allianz Stadium. The two-time Brazil international enjoyed the most prolific season of his career under ex-Juve and Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri last season, scoring 12 times in all competitions while impressing in a new-look centre-forward role.
‘An excellent signing’
“My return (to Lazio), after the experiences with West Ham and Porto? I benefited from and grew up in those hard moments,” Anderson, who had a disappointing loan spell in Portugal in 2020/21, told the UEFA Europa League magazine show 13 months ago.
“Returning to Lazio was one of the best things I’ve ever done. They really wanted me and, this time, everything is going even better.”
HITC Football, meanwhile, understands that Anderson’s future Juventus team-mate Dusan Vlahovic remains a target for Arsenal.
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