A look at Man United and Chelsea target Felipe Anderson

Felipe Anderson has caused a bit of a stir in the transfer market. English giants Chelsea and Manchester United are both monitoring the Lazio youngster and if rumours are true, are set to bid for his services. Lazio are trying to hold out on a sum of £36.5million. For a youngster going for such a sum, it’s worth looking into this player.

The 22-year old Brazilian midfielder was bought by S.S. Lazio at the start of the 2013-14 season from Santos for €7.8 Million. Felipe Anderson’s first season was not successful as he mostly featured on the bench. He played just 20 games all competitions, 7 of them coming on as a substitute and 11 of them resulted in his replacement. However, what the most useful trait that was spotted then, is the versatility he provides. Felipe Anderson is capable of playing down the left, right, and centre of midfield or just behind the striker.

In his second season with the club, Anderson was not the same player. The occasional flicker of talent in the 2013/14 season was replaced by a strong bright light that shone throughout the season. He finished the season with 11 goals and 10 assists, including crucial performances in both legs of the Coppa Italia semi-final as he helped knock holders Napoli out. In terms of minutes, Felipe Anderson played nearly 3 times as many minutes as he did in the previous season and was the 2 highest goal scorer for Lazio.

As for his style of play, apart from the versatility he offers, he is one of the quickest players. He has excellent ball control and dribbling skills. He has a good, accurate striking ability with either foot from out of the box. He is accurate in set pieces and penalties. Apart from this, Felipe Anderson is creative as he has a good eye on the final pass.

With such skills, it is no surprise to see giants bidding on him. Felipe Anderson would complement and boost the midfield quality of whichever team he goes to and can adapt thanks to his versatility. For a manager like Louis van Gaal who loves to change formations, he would be a valuable addition to United.

Would United or Chelsea be able to sign him? They should be with the financial powers that they possess. However, Felipe Anderson recently signed a 5 year extension with the club and that would mean paying more to Lazio in transfer fee by any potential buyer. Both him and his agent have said he will be staying in Lazio for the 2015/16 season, however all parties may consider other options if any good offer comes in for the player.

Whichever team that Felipe Anderson may play for in the upcoming season, there is no doubt that he would be a valued member.