Juventus are reportedly on the cusp of completing a deal to sign Lazio winger and former West Ham United attacker Felipe Anderson as a free agent.
The 30-year-old's contract with the Biancocelesti expires at the end of the season, and with no extension in sight, he is set to leave the club for nothing in a couple of months' time.
Despite his impending exit from Stadio Olimpico, Anderson is still one of the first names on the teamsheet for Lazio and has hit double figures for direct goal involvements this season.
The Brazil international has scored three of his own while setting up seven more in 43 games across all competitions, although he has gone 11 games without a contribution since netting in a 3-1 Serie A win over Cagliari on February 10.
Nevertheless, a productive stint at Lazio overall has seen Anderson register 56 goals and 63 assists in 318 contests across all tournaments since 2021, when he joined the Biancocelesti from West Ham for a mere €3m (£2.6m).
Lazio president Claudio Lotito has supposedly made attempts to keep the ex-West Ham man at the club, but Anderson's entourage have been left dissatisfied with the proposals, and a parting of the ways is now seen as inevitable.
🚨⚪️⚫️ EXCL: Juventus are one step away from signing Felipe Anderson as free agent, deal imminent!
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 8, 2024
Formal proposal sent to the Brazilian winger, all set to be sealed soon.
Verbal agreement at final stages, details being sorted and then... here we go. 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/QzS9A6nOlX
According to Fabrizio Romano, Juventus will soon close a deal to bring Anderson to the Allianz Stadium, and the Old Lady have now sent a formal offer to the 30-year-old's representatives.
A verbal agreement is thought to be nearly in place, and Anderson is expected to sign a four-year deal with Juventus until the end of the 2027-28 season, which would keep him at the club until after his 35th birthday.
The 2016 Olympic gold medallist can supposedly expect a wage packet of €4m (£3.4m) per season including add-ons, a significant rise on the annual €1.5m (£1.3m) he pockets at Lazio.
Could Anderson's arrival impact Federico Chiesa's future?/h2>
As Juventus finalise terms for Anderson to don the black and white strip, questions may naturally be raised about the impact his arrival will have on the future of Federico Chiesa, out of contract in the summer of 2025.
Despite his fitness concerns, the 26-year-old is still considered one of the jewels in the Juventus crown, and Premier League giants Liverpool and Manchester United are supposedly monitoring developments with a view to a summer move.
The Bianconeri still intend to keep Chiesa around and are working on a renewal for the Euro 2020 winger, but they should not turn their nose up to appropriate bids if an agreement cannot be reached, and Anderson's signing will at least soften the blow slightly.
Ben Knapton
