West Ham United winger Felipe Anderson has already spoken with a number of his former teammates over a return to Lazio this summer, according to Corriere dello Sport.
Some Lazio players contacted Anderson to discuss the Brazilian re-joining amid doubt in his future at the London Stadium. The Hammers are keen to cash in on the 28-year-old over fears he could leave for free next year.
West Ham will not renew Anderson’s £85,000-per-week contract as he prepares to enter the final 12-months of his deal. Instead, they hope to recoup €8m (£7m) of the fee paid to Lazio in 2018 to avoid a total loss.
West Ham broke their transfer record to sign Anderson for £36m under Manuel Pellegrini three years ago. And they could struggle to make back £7m of that, as Biancocelesti chiefs Claudio Lotito and Igli Tare hope to negotiate a lesser fee.
Lotito and Tare no longer have any reservations about the player returning to Rome. While Maurizio Sarri has also given his blessing to the Stadio Olimpico outfit pursuing a deal for Anderson. But while the cost is not exorbitant and he is appreciated, Lazio have their limits.
Santos President Andres Rueda has also confirmed he had sounded out his side’s chances of signing Anderson from West Ham. But the Brazilian’s wage priced the Sao Paulo side out of taking the winger away from east London this summer.
Anderson has also dreamed of returning to Lazio for the past year, which he spent away from West Ham on loan. Yet his Porto spell was a disaster with no goals and one assist in just 10 appearances, starting five.
Lazio deal West Ham real Anderson ultimatum
Lazio would deal West Ham a real ultimatum over Anderson if the Serie A side will not even pay £7m. The Brazilian has a raft of admirers at the Biancocelesti in their players, leadership and manager. But it is so far not enough for the winger to land his dream summer transfer.
The Hammers will be hellbent on recouping as much as possible through selling the two-cap Brazil international. Anderson’s arrival was costly and he has earned handsomely since, yet his future is already away from the London Stadium.
But David Moyes may have to bring Anderson back into his plans if West Ham decide Lazio’s offer is not enough. The Irons boss lauded him, via the Express and Star, in September as a ‘terrific’ player, and will hope his year in Portugal has not removed all evidence of that.
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