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Attacking midfield may be Liverpool’s deepest position, but that hasn’t stopped the Mirror passing along rumours in the Italian press that the club have set their sights on Lazio’s rising star Felipe Anderson. The 21-year-old Brazilian can play anywhere in support of the strikers, and has impressed since arriving from Santos for €7.5M in 2013.
Already this season in 23 appearances, Anderson has scored seven goals and added eight assists. With a goal every 180 minutes and a 15% finishing rate, the diminutive attacker’s goal return wouldn’t look bad for a young striker, but it’s just off the front where Anderson’s trickery and vision shines, and he looks well on his way to becoming a real star in that role.
The only problem is that Liverpool already have a glut of players who are either already established at the position or who project to similarly lofty heights. In the likes of Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana and Lazar Markovic and Jordon Ibe, there is certainly no shortage of just behind the striker attacking talent already encamped at Anfield.
As good as Anderson is, then—and the £20M rated youngster is very good—one has to ask why Liverpool would go and spend a significant chunk of their transfer budget on a player at a position of depth. It could easily be argued Liverpool need players in at every other position. Few would suggest another budding star of an attacking midfielder should be a priority.
Still, Anderson’s is an exciting new name to have linked to the club, and with Chelsea and both Manchester clubs previously rumoured to be interested in him, there’s a good chance he ends up somewhere in the Premier League next season.
