Frank McAvennie: Felipe Anderson has no future at West Ham
We’re delighted to welcome former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the London Stadium…
Felipe Anderson has no chance of returning to West Ham and breaking back into the first team, according to Frank McAvennie.
Anderson was signed from Lazio in 2018 for a then club-record fee of £36million, rising to £41.5million [BBC], and he enjoyed a productive maiden campaign with the Irons, scoring nine Premier League goals.
However, his second season at the club was much less successful as he scored just once in the league during their relegation battle, and he was shipped out to Portuguese giants Porto for the majority of the 2020/21 campaign.
Anderson failed to make a substantial impact there, playing just 10 times in total, and he now returns to east London with his future up in the air.
The 28-year-old has been offered to a number of Italian clubs according to trusted Irons insider ExWHUemployee on Twitter, and former West Ham forward McAvennie believes a parting of the ways would be a sensible move for both parties.
“He’s never going to get back in the team, simple as that,” McAvennie told West Ham Zone.
“He’s a luxury player. He’s a good talent, but he’s never going to fit into David Moyes’ team because, when you lose the ball, you have to work and get it back. If you don’t do that you’re not in the team, and Anderson doesn’t do that. He doesn’t win tackles.
“He’s not David’s kind of player so he’s not coming back. The sooner he goes the better. He’s going to decent teams and not doing it which shows you his attitude’s not right.
“I just hate seeing people with that ability not doing anything.
“Why would West Ham want him?”
Anderson’s contract at West Ham expires in June 2022 [Transfermarkt] so this summer will be the last chance to net a decent fee for the Brazilian midfielder.
With the likes of Jarrod Bowen, Pablo Fornals and Said Benrahma all well ahead of him in the pecking order, plus the possible return of Jesse Lingard from Manchester United, there appears to be no room for Anderson at the London Stadium, and thus a permanent transfer out of the club should be sanctioned.
It’s a sad end to a chapter that started so brightly, but Anderson’s star is well and truly on the wane.
In other West Ham news, this European club chairman has issued a huge financial claim on the Irons.
Be sure to follow West Ham Zone on Facebook and Twitter for 24/7 updates on the Hammers and more exclusive interviews with Frank McAvennie.