David Sullivan should re-think Felipe Anderson’s situation before accepting FC Porto’s rumoured decision to retain the West Ham United flop on loan for the remainder of the season.
What’s the word?
According to Record, Anderson will no longer be leaving the Estadio do Dragao after Porto chiefs decided against terminating the Brazilian’s one-season loan spell at the Liga NOS giants.
The Dragoes had been expected to part ways with Anderson this month, with confirmation of his return to east London said to be imminent after seeing the two-time international fail to establish himself under manager Sergio Conceicao.
Anderson has featured in just five fixtures across all competitions after failing to come off the bench during Porto’s 1-1 draw with rivals SL Benfica last Friday, as his wait for a first league outing since October continues.
West Ham were also rumoured to be looking into ending Anderson’s time in Portugal early in order to protect his market value, with a half-season loan move elsewhere seen to be the Hammers’ best route to securing a more lucrative sum in a permanent exit this summer.
But the picture may soon change, as Porto are understood to be struggling to get a deal for Gremio forward Pepe over the line and have been struck by a series of coronavirus cases.
The developments are thought to be offering Anderson a route back into Conceicao’s plans, despite the 27-year-old being remembered at the Estadio do Dragao for the mistakes he made during his early appearances this term.
U-turn needed
Sullivan risks West Ham’s worst nightmare coming true if Anderson does stay in the Liga NOS for the remainder of the season, as Conceicao cannot be trusted to field the 27-year-old any more than he has already despite how the January transfer window is unfolding for Porto.
Anderson is clearly not a valued member of Porto’s squad, having played just 61 minutes against third-tier GD Fabril Barreiro, 45 minutes against FC Pacos de Ferreira and 63 minutes against Olympiacos since last taking to the field for a top-flight game.
He has also been omitted from nine matchday squads across all competitions, to see his Transfermarkt valuation remain at £22.5m – the lowest figure touted since December 2017 – to round out what was a miserable year for Anderson – who was valued at £40.5m just 12-months ago.
Anderson living the remainder of the campaign in the wilderness at Porto will only see West Ham forced to accept a mammoth loss to the former club-record £36m paid to SS Lazio in 2018, like Sullivan was forced to allow with Sebastien Haller who departed for a £25m hit earlier this month.
If West Ham are to avoid that, they should re-consider recalling the forward and sending him out on loan to a side where first-team football will be far easier to secure. That way, Anderson will have a far better chance of rediscovering the form that saw him offer 10 goals and five assists in his maiden year at the London Stadium.
AND in other news, West Ham can secure David Moyes’ dream Mark Noble heir in a £25m January target…