Manchester United Transfer Rumors: Felipe Anderson Could Be Off To Old Trafford
Manchester United could be set to sign Lazio’s Felipe Anderson after a turbulent week in the transfer market. Felipe Anderson has been on Manchester United’s transfer radar since the start of the summer window, but the Old Trafford club had not registered a formal transfer bid.
According to ESPN, Manchester United’s attention shifted to Anderson after a series of failed attempts to sign Thomas Müller, Sadio Mane, and, of course, Pedro Rodriguez.
Filipe Anderson had a fantastic season in the Serie A, with Lazio scoring 10 goals to help the Rome club qualify for the UEFA Champions League. Interest in the Brazilian forward is high, yet Lazio has so far been able to hold on to the 22-year-old.
Manchester United were once favorites to sign Barcelona’s Pedro Rodriguez. However, after weeks of negotiations, Chelsea swooped in and signed the Spanish forward for £21 million.
Earlier, the Inquisitr reported that Pedro rejected an offer to join Manchester United after statements from former Barcelona legend Hristo Stoichkov that advised Pedro to steer clear of Louis Van Gaal.
Many speculate that the fallout from the Pedro transfer was a result of Louis Van Gaal’s seemingly poor handling of Spanish goalkeepers David De Gea and Victor Valdez, both of whom were stripped from all the matchday squads so far in the season. Despite that, De Gea was registered in Manchester United’s Champions League preliminary for the tournament.
The Manchester United boss was visibly irritated after being quizzed on the Pedro transfer saga.
“I think when Manchester United wants a player he shall come, besides when a club isn’t selling,” said the Dutchman.
“It is the same with us. We are not selling De Gea. I have the responsibility of protecting the interests of my club and my players. If you ask me if Pedro is fitting the profile, I cannot lie, I say yes, but I didn’t say I am interested in the player. That is the difference. He is fast and he is creative.”
“I cannot answer these questions [on Pedro], you know that. I have said it before, that what we are doing is a process,” explained Van Gaal.
Manchester United were held to a nil-all draw with Newcastle United on the lunchtime kickoff fixture on Saturday.
0 – Manchester United have started a league season with three straight clean sheets for only the fifth time ever (first since 05/06). Block.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 22, 2015
Will Manchester United sign Felipe Anderson?
[Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images]
