Now that Andriy Yarmolenko is officially a West Ham player, the Hammers can fully focus on getting their biggest transfer of all time over the line: Felipe Anderson.
What should have been their first or second signing of the season has dragged on more than it should have, but recent developments lead the Italian media to believe it’s finally close to completion.
Gazzetta dello Sport report on Wednesday that West Ham have finally come close to meeting Lazio’s €45m request, and there’s now very little chance of Felipe Anderson heading off for preseason with the Serie A club on Saturday.
Il Messaggero are also brimming with optimism, claiming the Brazilian is ‘very, very close’ to a transfer to London Stadium for a fee of ‘a bit more than €40m’.
Corriere dello Sport also join #TeamWestHam, stating the deal could be closed in the next 48 hours, and for only €36m (that seems a bit low).
A final meeting could take place between Felipe Anderson’s agents and Lazio to close the deal if necessary, but the feeling within the Brazilian’s camp is that a transfer is close.
Il Tempo, however, are a bit more pessimistic than their counterparts, believing the Hammers aren’t quite there yet with the money, and the Italians are playing hardball to buy Chelsea some time, allowing the Blues to sort out their managerial crisis so they can enter the mix once Maurizio Sarri is confirmed at Stamford Bridge.
If they do come forward, it would be the dream scenario for Lazio, forcing West Ham to either up their offer or walk away, leaving Claudio Lotito to negotiate with a club with more important finances and keen to give their new manager what he wants.
That’s three to one on the positive side, which is a lot better than last week, and when that many newspapers link arms and sing the same song, it’s normally a very good sign.
