Manchester United know they need to score, and to score regularly they need a proper centre forward. With the winter transfer window, the media outlets have started their usual process of linking almost all big names or emerging players to the club. One rumour, however, has gathered a lot of fire of late, with several houses reporting that Ed Woodward, United’s CEO, has offered the Italian club Lazio a stupendous £35million for the services of their striker Felipe Anderson.

And this isn’t the first time the Brazilian has been linked to the Red Devils, he had almost joined us last summer and Liverpool were deeply interested in him too. So who exactly is Felipe Anderson? And how good is he? Read on to find out.

INTRO:

Felipe Anderson is a Santos youth academy product, the famed Brazilian club which has also produced the likes of Pele and Neymar Junior. Lazio bought him for 8 million euros in 2013, after seeing his brilliant performances for the Peixes between 2010 to 2012. His first season at the Italian club wasn’t one to remember, but since then he has been a consistent performer and having someone like the German goal machine Miroslav Klose to guide and nurture him has only improved Felipe’s game.

STRENGTHS:

Anderson is one of the fastest players in the Serie A and has great dribbling ability, he does play in an attacking midfielder’s role but he can play on either side of the team as he is two-footed and loves to run at defenders and take them on. He doesn’t have the best passing ability, though, however his ambidextrosity and his habit to drift centrally time and again makes him exceptionally difficult to mark. He doesn’t score a lot of goals, but he is technically proficient, so goals are likely to come in the future.

WEAKNESS:

As it is with all young prospects, Felipe Anderson undergoes the occasional drop in form every now and then. However, as he matures, one can imagine that he learns to be more consistent and reliable.

FUTURE FORECAST:

With United always having had encouraged exciting young players to perform and excel, it would be unwise of us not to lap up the opportunity of signing him. Anthony Martial was bought for a similar amount of money, and if Felipe can follow the Frenchman’s lead, then he will be one heck of a buy. Go on the Roman holiday, Ed! And bring him in!