Although it seemed very unlikely that West Ham would sanction the exit of a first-team player after the closure of the summer transfer window, there were some fears this week that it could still happen.
Earlier this week, reports coming out of Turkey suggested Galatasaray were planning a ‘surprise’ move for left-back Emerson Palmieri ahead of the Turkish transfer deadline day this Friday.
Turkish news outlet, Sabah, claimed Gala boss Okan Buruk was in the market for a new left-back and had hoped to open talks to tempt the Italy international away from east London.
Being interested in a player and actually having the ability to sign them are two very different things, and therefore these rumours also came across as very unlikely to materialise beyond interest, especially given the timing for West Ham.
With the Premier League transfer window already closed, letting Emerson leave now would’ve likely meant being forced to enter the free agent market for a replacement, or re-installing Aaron Cresswell as West Ham’s first-choice left-back, who hasn’t held down that position since Emerson signed from Chelsea two years ago.
But thankfully, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has poured cold water on the rumours by confirming that a deal will not be done at this stage, pointing towards Emerson’s happiness with life at West Ham.
Romano confirmed on his X account: “Despite links with Turkish clubs, Emerson Palmieri has no interest in leaving West Ham.
“He’s staying at #WHUFC, very happy there.”
Emerson is a “top player”
It wouldn’t be an over exaggeration to suggest Emerson has been one of the biggest bargains West Ham have got in recent memory.
Signed from Chelsea in a deal believed to be worth £15m in August 2022, the Italian has since become an integral part of West Ham’s starting XI.
His Man of the Match performance against Fiorentina in the 2023 Conference League final will live long in the memory of those who witnessed it, with him being head and shoulders above anyone else on the pitch in Prague that night.
Moreover, his relationship both on and off the pitch with Lucas Paqueta should not be understated.
The pair were also teammates at Lyon the season before they signed for the Hammers and have since shown themselves to have a clear understanding of one another. They way they link up together on the left hand side can often be a joy to watch.
Speaking about Emerson, Paqueta once said: “Emerson is a very good player, a top player.
“I’m very happy to play with him because he understands me and he knows me and when I have the ball I understand him.
“It’s so easy to play with him and I’m so happy.”
With that in mind, it’s no surprise that Emerson has no interest in leaving the club at this point. He’s a first-choice left-back in the Premier League and is playing in the same team as his best friend.
