OPINION
Many West Ham fans were no doubt excited when the club signed Felipe Anderson from Lazio in the summer. He was their record buy and they were certainly expecting some big things from him.
All in all, the Brazilian playmaker has had an indifferent time in East London so far. There have been times where the supporters were lucky to witness the magic that he can offer, and there have been times where he has been anonymous and highly ineffective.
However, they definitely do not want the 25-year-old to leave the London Stadium, particularly so soon after he signed. He still has a not more potential to unleash, and there will come a time where he will prove why he is the club’s record signing.
Sky Sports reported on Thursday that Real Madrid were likely to target him in a £65 million deal if they failed to land Chelsea’s Eden Hazard, and this was no doubt news that had many of the fans sweating buckets. Anderson may have not set the Premier League alight in his first season, but the last thing they needed was one of their main creative forces moving somewhere else.
This means that they will surely jump for joy after Claret and Hugh issued an update on the situation. They report that the Hammers have had no approach for the ace, which will certainly be music to the fans’ ears.
Manuel Pellegrini will definitely breathe a sigh of relief at this update. Anderson would have been tempted by a move to the La Liga giants if they came calling – why wouldn’t he? – and that would mean having to sign a suitable replacement in the summer.
The midfield dazzler will come out of shell in time, and the Irons certainly want to be the club where he finally finds his feet. Either way, the fans will be ecstatic at this news.