Anderson £35m deal close

West Ham United are increasingly confident of signing the Lazio winger Felipe Anderson for a club record fee which could be as high as £35million.

Talks have progressed between West Ham and Anderson’s representatives, with one source close to the deal saying there is now a “big chance” that it will be completed.

It comes after West Ham announced their third signing since appointing Manuel Pellegrini as manager with the confirmation that goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski has been acquired from relegated Swansea City for £7million on a threeyear contract. Having signed the 33-year-old, who is at the World Cup with Poland, West Ham are continuing to hold talks over another Swansea player, Alfie Mawson.

Defender Issa Diop has already arrived from Toulouse for £22million on a five-year deal. The 21-yearold is a France Under-21 and was club captain at his hometown club. West Ham have also brought in Ryan Fredericks from promoted Fulham, on a four-year contract, after he became a free agent.

However it will be the signing of Anderson which will excite the West Ham fans. The 25-year-old right winger scored four goals and provided seven assists in 21 appearances in Serie A last season and also scored three times in the Italian club’s Europa League campaign. Anderson has been capped by Brazil and was signed from the Brazilian club Santos by Lazio for £6.75 million in 2015.