West Ham have no interest in selling Felipe Anderson to Liverpool this summer, after the Daily Mail suggested the Brazilian was one of Jurgen Klopp’s top targets to bolster the Merseyside outfit’s attack.
The Reds fell just short of a first Premier League title when Pep Guardiola guided Manchester City to successive crowns, and are now expected to part ways with former England striker Daniel Sturridge once his contract at Anfield expires next month.
Despite his heroics for Liverpool in the Champions League, Klopp is also thought to be keen on signing someone who can rival Divock Origi and Rhian Brewster in the summer, and had twelve potential targets in mind – including Anderson, as he would offer proven Premier League quality after hitting nine goals, four assists in his inaugural campaign.
Apart from our 2018 arrival from Lazio, the Daily Mail believe Klopp has been considering moves for Olympique Lyonnais wingers Bertrand Traore and Maxwel Cornet, as well as Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze, AFC Bournemouth star Ryan Fraser and LOSC Lille wonder Nicolas Pepe.
Ajax sensations Hakim Ziyech and David Neres are also on their shortlist, alongside RB Leipzig target man Timo Werner, Benfica wonderkid Joao Felix and Hammers target Maxi Gomez.
German international midfielder Julian Brandt was also under consideration, but he has now joined Bundesliga runners-up Borussia Dortmund on a five-year contract, after BVB triggered his €25million (£22m) release clause at Bayer Leverkusen.
They will likely miss out on signing Anderson if Klopp decides the Brazilian is his top target, as well, as West Ham are insistent that the 26-year-old is not for sale and that the club will look to make a statement by retaining the 1-cap international.
Despite that, here’s how some Irons supporters reacted to the Daily Mail’s claims…
Liverpool cannot have Anderson
— Sheryl Bone (@sheryl_bone) May 22, 2019
Must not let him go
— tony (@happy_hammers) May 22, 2019
Great decision????????????⚒
— Yacon (@Yacon15) May 22, 2019
80 mill please and thankyou
— oscar (@mustbemaiga) May 22, 2019
80mill and shaqiri
— JB (@BurchettJason) May 22, 2019
People saying 80m????do people not realise how important he was for us when he didn’t play we had no forward drive he’s the pace in the midfield
— West Ham Stats (@TheWestHamVault) May 22, 2019
So Liverpool want an overrated player that’s calm
— Toby Saunders (@DaddyDeccers) May 22, 2019