West Ham United are reportedly closing in on landing the services of Chelsea defender Emerson Palmieri in a deal worth £15 million.
According to Fabrizio Romano on Twitter, West Ham United are swiftly closing in on securing the services of Chelsea defender Emerson Palmieri in a £15 million deal before the 2022 summer transfer window draws to a close.
The 28-year-old has been in west London since 2016 following his arrival from AS Roma. While Emerson has been afforded opportunities, he has struggled to break into Chelsea’s first XI and never quite achieved the status of a regular starter.
Ben Chilwell is currently the first choice left wing-back at Chelsea and has the impressive Marc Cucurella competing with him. With Cesar Azpilicueta also capable of playing the role, Emerson is unlikely to secure playing time at Stamford Bridge. In fact, he is yet to take to the field this season for Chelsea in what is an early indication of his standing in Thomas Tuchel’s pecking order.
At 28, the Azzurri defender is at the peak of his powers and should be playing regular first-team football. While Chelsea may not be able to offer him that, the same cannot be said of other teams in the English capital. West Ham have been keen signing on Emerson for some time, only for talks to reach nowhere.
The deadlock appears to have ended now, with a deal worth £13 million plus £2 million in bonuses agreeable to Chelsea and West Ham. As things stand, the Hammers are in talks with Emerson regarding personal terms.
A move to the London Stadium will see Emerson fight for a starting spot with Aaron Creswell. The Englishman is 32 years old and has shown obvious signs of decline in recent months. He is a far from reliable option for Moyes, and the Chelsea defender should have no problems in establishing himself as the go-to name in the position for West Ham.
Negotiations could move quickly if the final details can be worked out this weekend. Chelsea are also in need of further reinforcements and will do well to see Emerson’s move to West Ham settled soon. This will give them further funds that can then be reinvested back into the squad.
As for the player, a move to West Ham makes perfect sense. Not only will he secure regular playtime, but will also not need to leave a city he has lived in for six years now. On paper, it would appear to be a win-win for all parties involved.
