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Missing Hammer Fuels Juventus Part Exchange Rumour

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Aaron Wan-Bissaka deputised for Emerson Palmeri yesterday at left back. Of course, we are used to Wan-Bissaka doing a better job as a stand-in than Emerson himself, the regular left sided defender. Officially, apparently, the former Chelsea defender was absent with a knock having failed a late fitness test. Several of the comments on the Claret and Hugh forum suggested he may have been kept out of the game for ‘political’ reasons if a transfer is on the cards.

The relevant report from caughtoffside.com at the end of last week certainly added fuel to the fire surrounding an Emerson move to Juventus as a ‘part exchange’ deal involving Nicolo Fagioli coming to West Ham:

“West Ham United are reportedly eyeing up a swap transfer involving left-back Emerson Palmieri, as they look for midfield reinforcements. According to reports in Italy, the Hammers are keen on potentially signing Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli, who is currently deemed surplus to requirements in Turin. That could pave the way for West Ham to bring the Italy international to the London Stadium, though they’re exploring ways to bring his price tag down.”

All of which rings true – with a very small transfer kitty, West Ham are indeed likely to try and complete ‘part exchange’ deals in January to strengthen the squad and a dynamic midfielder is urgently needed to reinforce options in the middle of the pitch – as was only too evident yesterday.

Nicolo Fagioli with a chequered past is very ‘West Ham’, having served a seven month ban imposed by the Italian Football Federation for violating betting rules. As an attacking midfield playmaker, he’d certainly be a welcome addition to the squad and a replacement for Lucas Paquetá should he receive his own ban from the FA.

Quite where that would leave West Ham’s left back situation isn’t clear: Should Emerson be sold, Wan-Bissaka is fine there but that creates a knock-on problem on the right hand side. Vladimir Coufal is no longer up to Premier League standards as was very obvious yesterday.

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From the old Bobby Moore Upper to the Billy Bonds' stand these days I've been watching since '03 and a supporter since about 1970.. 'Football is Life' oh yes. Let it raise your spirit but never darken your mood. Life's too short not to enjoy the journey with our Claret and Blue heroes n' villains.

10 comments

  • Phillip Williams says:

    Promote scarles and make a £5m bid for either (or both) Walker peters from southampton, or Tyreek Mitchell from Palace, both out of contract in the summer. move Coufal on

  • Phil Baker says:

    After 20 league games it’s clear that Lopetegui has no idea of how to defend or link the team together . Under Lopetegui Westham are an ongoing train wreck and it will get worse as other lower teams improve . Sullivan is trying to keep Lopetegui until seasons end at which point Westham might become a Championship team . Perhaps Sullivan will keep Lopetegui on to get promotion . It’s pitiful . Scampetegui is not a real coach , his past record proves that . There are no group of players that he can mold together as a team .

  • Hugh Jassoll says:

    kudus is a one way player left coufal out to dry

    • Brooksy says:

      Agreed! It’s the same reason Emerson has been exposed at times on the other side. It’s part of the wide man’s job to track back. A good coach would drill it into him. Summerville and Bowen do it out of habit because it’s their job. Basics!

  • merlin1066 says:

    comments here regarding our youth players.it riles me that not one of our younger players are getting any regular playing time.considering the shambolic 1st team is all over the place it would be great tp see some young energetic legs on the pitch.I fear it will not happen as Lopetegui job hangs by a thread and he wont have the balls to trust in youth.

  • Kenny Irons says:

    We also have the 65 Year old Cresswell as left back cover – couldn’t make it up !

    • West Ham Fan No 32 says:

      Haha indeed and Cressie has been an amazing servant to the club though defensively he had a blind spot to anyone behind him, lost count of the times strikers and wingers would ghost in behind and get the run on him every team knew it and exploited it. Emerson is just absent minded and you have no idea where he is going to pop up or be, in a team that has most of the ball you can limit the damage caused by his lack of defensive awareness and have the random element that if his own players don’t know where he is going to be neither do his opponents, his for mis equally erratic he is the Devon Malcolm of football, capable of genius on his days but more often than not is woeful.

      Agree with Gary on Scarles, he looked good when he played, we are making mistakes anyway so we can’t be any worse off and we can accept them from a player that has a future ahead of them, give him a run and lets see if he is like Rice.

  • Gary says:

    We have a readymade left back available in Ollie Scarles. He is clearly capable of and will only get better with more game time

  • Essexiron67 says:

    Just a comment on the use of academy players ,Arsenal with everything to play for can use a 17year academy player in the 1st half ,who scores . What’s happened to our successful academy players. Same answer everytime our management work out how to use any of them in the team, other teams do. How about Hietenger as manager , thought highly of at Liverpool,knows West Ham but I suppose that in its self is good enough reason to stay where you are

    • Peter says:

      I agree, should be playing Academy players on a regular basis and not for 10 mins at a time. The level of play on the pitch is screaming out for some of them (Scarles of course and others) to be playing more and more, honestly competing for places against the regulars in quite a few positions. Hopefully Potts will be in the team next season given how well he is doing out on loan.

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