If Emerson Is The Answer, What Is West Ham's Question?
With the arrival of left wing-back Emerson Palmieri from Chelsea, West Ham have finalised their seventh signing of the summer transfer window.
The 28-year-old joins the East London outfit for an initial fee of £13 million, ending his five-year stay at Stamford Bridge with two goals and three assists in 61 appearances for the Blues.
He spent last season on loan with Lyon after falling out of favour under Thomas Tuchel, becoming a first-team regular for the first time since his switch from Roma to Chelsea in 2018.
Born in Sao Paolo, the 27-cap Italy international made a positive impression in the Rhône-Alpes, appearing 37 times in all competitions under head coach Peter Bosz.
Emerson enters the fold at the London Stadium at a critical moment in the season for West Ham, who are pointless to start the campaign and travel to Viborg in the Europa Conference League on Thursday [25 August], and will provide competition to Aaron Cresswell at left-back.
However, the transfer is not a home run for the Hammers.
“Perhaps hampered by the anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered before arriving in the Premier League, Emerson never really set the world alight at Chelsea,” explains Zak Green, a regular visitor to Stamford Bridge.
“Even though he rarely started, he looked defensively suspect and didn’t offer the same attacking threat as [Marcus] Alonso or [Ben] Chilwell when he was afforded opportunities. He’s an awkward wing-back.”
But there are reasons to be optimistic about the transaction, starting with Emerson’s set-piece deliveries. He is a useful asset in dead-ball situations and an ideal candidate to replace Cresswell as the team’s primary crosser.
Developed in the fabled academy of Santos, the one-time Premier League champion is always keen to contribute in the final third and possesses a forward-first mentality.
Unless his only option is a square pass, Emerson’s instinct is to advance into the attacking half by distributing to a midfielder or dribbling over the halfway line.
Following a tricky spell in the Premier League, the 1994-born wing-back experienced a defensive renaissance last term – as shown in his statistical output:
4.99 defensive duels per 90, winning 61 percent
2.58 aerial duels per 90, winning 54.7 percent
4.17 interceptions per 90
1.75 clearances per 90
8.21 ball recoveries per 90, including 33.8 percent in the attacking half
That said, Emerson lacks footspeed and is vulnerable on the transition as a result. His tepid acceleration also leaves him exposed in loose ball duels, which is exacerbated by iffy positional play. (Last season, he lost 56.9 percent of his 50-50s.)
It will take a sizeable turnaround in the Italian’s form for him to seize the left-back position from Cresswell, who remains in David Moyes’ circle of trust despite his Europa League errors last term.
If the former Palermo loanee fails to usurp the 32-year-old, he will fill Arthur Masuaku’s spot on the bench.
Either way, Emerson’s transfer to West Ham is unlikely to be etched in East End lore.
Emerson is West Ham’s seventh arrival of the summer, following:
Thilo Kehrer Will Bring Versatility In Bucketloads To West Ham
Born in Brentwood, Made in the EFL: How Will Flynn Downes Help West Ham?
Guess Who’s Back? Alphonse Areola Joins West Ham (Permanently, This Time)
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Strange signing this. Would like to see you sign Maitland-Niles.