Manchester United Transfer News: Huge Felipe Anderson Bid Readied, Fresh Rumours

Latest reports suggest Manchester United have lodged a big-money bid to sign Lazio playmaker Felipe Anderson, while West Bromwich Albion have emerged as front-runners to sign want-away Jonny Evans.

James Cambridge of the Daily Express cited Sky Italia on Thursday, reporting that a £32.8 million move was in the offing. That came before Italian journalist Tancredi Palmeri confirmed a €40 million (£29 million) bid had been made:

United's alleged interest in the 22-year-old is fresher than a host of rumours to have surrounded Old Trafford this summer, including links to Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane earlier this month, per the Mirror's John Cross.

Kane is but one forward associated with an Old Trafford switch following the summer exits of Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao, but it's widely believed captain Wayne Rooney will be trusted as the main attacker this term.

Should that be the case, strengthening the creative options in midfield could be a prudent move, with Anderson establishing himself as one of Serie A's most potent string-pullers over the last two years.

Lazio were demoted to the Europa League after suffering a 3-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in midweek, with Anderson telling Italian outlet Sport Mediaset of his displeasure with the team's performance, via Football Italia:

"

It went badly, as we wanted to win this game and bring the Champions League back to Lazio. We intended to defend the first leg win and hit them on the counter-attack, as we knew Bayer had to push forward and turn the tie around. Tonight we lacked experience and we didn't play well.

It hurts, but we have to get our heads back up and play to do well in Serie A and the Europa League. Bayer Leverkusen are strong, so are we, but we should’ve scored another goal at home to have more security coming here. We wanted to play a more attacking game and hurt them on the counter. We didn’t manage it.

We thank the Lazio fans, as what they are doing for us is very important. We ask them to continue, as we are on a journey, on the right path and will try to do better to make them happy.

"

Those comments suggest the attacking midfielder is willing to fight on as part of the Rome outfit this season, but the allure of playing in the Champions League could yet take hold.

Anderson wouldn't be cup-tied in Europe if he wished to represent United in the Champions League group stage, with the BBC's John Bennett acknowledging Lazio's disappointment may affect any prospective deal:

Cambridge's report also cited Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, reporting Red Devils manager Louis van Gaal has a considerable £73 million to play with between now and Tuesday's transfer window deadline.

The club have already signed Memphis Depay from PSV this summer, but Anderson brings the added benefit of being a more natural fit in a central playmaking position as well as out wide.

The former Santos star made his senior debut for Brazil in June after scoring 10 goals and making eight assists in 32 Serie A appearances last season, per Transfermarkt.

Faith is coming back in Rooney's attacking attributes following a hat-trick display against Club Brugge, and Anderson may feature as an upgrade in ammunition being offered to the club captain.

West Brom Racing to Sign Jonny Evans

West Brom manager Tony Pulis is hoping his side can reach an agreement to sign Manchester United misfit Evans, who is understood to be considering his future at Old Trafford.

That's according to Simon Jones of the Daily Mail, who reported Everton are also interested in the Northern Ireland international following his fall down the Red Devils' pecking order.

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Jones added that a £10 million price tag was placed on the defender earlier this summer, but a compromise could be reached for less, with ex-Old Trafford favourite Darren Fletcher doing his bit to convince his former team-mate to join.

Evans made just 12 Premier League appearances for United last season and has seen Marcos Rojo, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones take defensive priority ahead of him under Van Gaal.

It seems malleable midfielder Daley Blind even sits ahead of Evans in the Old Trafford pecking order, and granting Evans a summer exit could be seen as a sensible move for both parties.

However, Squawka suggested earlier this summer Evans may not be considered all that inferior, boasting the best overall duel win percentage of that quartet last season:

As mentioned by Jones, it could come to be that Chelsea's interest in Everton's John Stones plays a role in whether the Toffees make a move for Evans.

Despite his slip from the regular starting XI, Evans still has a great deal of experience to offer any potential suitor, having won three Premier League titles, two League Cup crowns and a FIFA Club World Cup at United.

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Should a deal be sanctioned prior to the summer deadline, Van Gaal's side may yet look to reinvest in another centre-back, with the Daily Star's Colin Harvey also linking United with a move for Stones.