The Southampton fans in the Transfer Tavern are hoping their club will make a handful of ambitious signings this summer in order to instigate a significant improvement in their fortunes next season, and recent reports have given them reason to believe one could be on the horizon.
According to the Italian media outlet Tuttosport (via Football Italia), Southampton are interested in signing Lazio’s Felipe Anderson this summer, although they face strong competition from West Ham and Leicester City for his signature.
The 25-year-old winger (valued at £22.5 million by Transfermarkt) was in fine form for Lazio last season as he notched 8 goals and provided 10 assists from 32 appearances in all-competitions whilst predominantly operating in a free-role behind the striker.
Anderson is naturally a right-sided midfield player who possesses the rare ability to use both his feet to equal effect, and his quality in this regard makes him an ideal candidate to slot into a variety of attacking midfield positions.
With this profile in mind, it’s easy to understand why the Southampton supporters have reacted to the latest reports with absolute delight and called for the club to complete a watershed transfer this summer.
The vast majority of the supporters have voiced their desire to see the 25-year-old Brazilian arrive at St Mary’s, but after a disappointing few seasons in the transfer market there are plenty of fans who are adopting a pessimistic stance and refusing to get carried away by the report.
Here’s what the Southampton fans have had to say in response to their links with Anderson…
If we get him then I won't say anything negative in a year. He's immense
— Thomas Levcovich (@TheGifKing) June 4, 2018
Now that would be a coup
— Callum (@callmecal92) June 3, 2018
Sign him up! Let Tadic, Carrillo and Forster go! Keep Gabbi, Cedric, Bertrand, Lemina and McCarthy! Sign also Promes, Sisto and a commanding CB and we are pretty much done!
— Jarkko Hårdh (@HardhJarkko) June 4, 2018
Sounds good but the fact that Leicester and West Ham are interested means we’ll probably miss out. Both will offer him higher wages especially West Ham. So until we up our wage structure when it comes to a bidding war we’ll lose out again and again !!
— Terry (@Bennett2Terry) June 3, 2018
18 direct goal involvements in 23 games inc sub appearances
— Alex (@Alzy077) June 3, 2018
Sick on fifa so gotta be worth a shot
— Jamie (@jamie17saints) June 3, 2018
— Ryan Holloway (@hollovaux) June 3, 2018
Other people have heard of him, so no chance we’ll sign
— Matthew Dev (@MattJBDev) June 4, 2018
