According to Fabrizio Romano on Twitter, West Ham United are closing in on a 15 million pound deal to sign Chelsea left-back Emerson Palmieri before the summer transfer window closes in 2022.
The 28-year-old has been in London since 2016 after joining from AS Roma. While the player has been given opportunities, he has struggled to break into Chelsea’s first XI and has never been a regular starter.
Chelsea’s first choice left wing-back is currently Ben Chilwell, who is up against the impressive Marc Cucurella. Emerson is unlikely to get playing time at Stamford Bridge, with Cesar Azpilicueta also capable of filling the role. In fact, he is yet to play for Chelsea this season, providing an early indication of his place in Thomas Tuchel’s pecking order.
Also read 👉 Chelsea set to submit player-plus-cash deal for Barcelona’s Aubameyang
The Azzurri defender is at the pinnacle of his abilities and should be a regular first-team player. While Chelsea may not be able to provide him with that, other teams in the English capital cannot. West Ham has been interested in signing Emerson for some time, but negotiations have fallen through.
The impasse appears to have been broken, with Chelsea and West Ham agreeing to a deal worth 13 million plus 2 million in bonuses. As of now, the Hammers are negotiating personal terms with Emerson.
The player will compete for a starting spot with Aaron Creswell if he moves to the London Stadium. The Englishman is 32 years old and has been clearly declining in recent months. He is a far from dependable option for David Moyes, and the Chelsea defender should have no trouble establishing himself as West Ham’s go-to name in the position.
If the final details can be worked out this weekend, negotiations could move quickly. Chelsea is also in need of reinforcements and will be hoping that Emerson’s move to West Ham is completed soon. This will provide them with additional funds, which they can then reinvest back into the squad.
