Chelsea fans sitting down for their breakfast in the Football Transfer Tavern this morning will no doubt be reading the reports that are linking Lazio midfield with Felipe Anderson.
The Brazilian number 10 has been linked with a host of Premier League clubs in recent years, with Manchester United reportedly having a £50 million offer rejected last summer.
A number of reports, including this piece by The Metro, are linking Chelsea with an imminent move for the midfielder, with Conte reportedly looking to bolster out his attacking options.
Our landlord isn’t too sure on this deal, and says that the signing does bring some inherent problems with it – despite the positives that Anderson will bring as a player.
Here are 2 PROS and 2 CONS to Chelsea signing Felipe Anderson……
PRO – Quality Player
One advantage is an obvious one – Felipe Anderson is simply a fantastic talent, and his playing qualities would bring benefits to any top side.
Renowned for his pace and technical ability, Anderson is able to dictate play from the tip of the midfield, excelling when running at defenses and dribbling towards goal.
He is also typically very hard working – a trait that Chelsea fans, and new manager Antonio Conte, are sure to like.
The 2015-16 season was a stellar one for Anderson too, playing 42 games and scoring nearly 10 goals.
If you just look at Felipe Anderson on a basic level – he is a very good player, and would thus seemingly be a great for The Blues.
CON – Current Squad
One of the main issues with the signing however is despite Anderson’s quality; Chelsea are simply already at max capacity with regards to attacking midfielders.
Eden Hazard and Willian are surefire starters each week, with Oscar, Kenedy, Cuadrado, Pedro and Cesc Fabregas all competing for a single spot behind the strikers.
If Anderson were to sign, he would no doubt be looking for a starting spot each week – and there is no way that Chelsea would be able to guarantee that with their current playing squad.
PRO – Brazilian Connection
However, within that playing squad a clear link between the Chelsea attack and Felipe Anderson; a Brazilian connection.
If Anderson to sign for The Blues he would be joining a contingent of Brazilian Blues that includes Oscar, Willian and Kennedy; meaning the Chelsea attack could effectively become exclusively Brazilian on any given day.
This of course would be a huge advantage, with each of the players no doubt offering complementing styles of play, whilst player will be able to communicate and play alongside each other flawlessly.
You also have the off the field advantage, with the Brazilian players typically sticking together during their down time. Having a contingent of players from the same nation can only be a good thing.
CON – Cost
However, the likelihood is that these players simply wont play together all time; and given the huge depth that Chelsea have going forward – Anderson simply wont play all the time.
His transfer, if you take the £50 million rejected offer from Manchester United last season; would no doubt sky rocket to a British record fee.
If the club are willing to pay that much for him, then no doubt he would need to start; and that isn’t a feasible option considering the quality that the Blues already have.
The club have far weaker spots in the starting XI that need changing first, and his price tag simply does not represent good value.
