Graham Potter, it seems, is happy enough to let the past remain in the past as West Ham United move away from a couple of the manager’s former Brighton and Hove Albion favourites.
Despite holding talks back in January, West Ham have cooled on Adam Webster. The Brighton centre-back who blossomed under Graham Potter at the Amex into one of the Premier League’s more impressive ball-playing defenders.
Chelsea offered Robert Sanchez in exchange for Mohammed Kudus, meanwhile, but it is understood that nothing came of those initial discussions. Kudus appears no closer to leaving West Ham United at this stage.
Potter and Kyle Macaulay were unmoved by Jadon Sancho, too; Chelsea hitting a brick wall in their attempts to bring the Ghana international to Stamford Bridge while offering a host of underperforming players as part of any arrangement.
One man who does look certain to leave the London Stadium, though, is left-back Emerson Palmieri.
Fabrizio Romano claims Emerson is departing. The Brazil-born Italy international will become the latest experienced first-teamer to leave a club looking to dramatically reduce the average age of Potter’s roster.
Maurizio Sarri, head coach of SS Lazio, reacts during the
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Lazio boss Maurizio Sarri wants reunion with West Ham United’s Emerson Palmieri
According to reports, Lazio are keen to take ex-Roma man Emerson back to Serie A.
A man who spent three years in the Italian capital between 2015 and 2018 could become only the 19th player to represent both clubs on either side of the Stadio Olimpico divide.
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And while West Ham appear to have decided against reuniting Graham Potter with either Adam Webster or Robert Sanchez, the returning Maurizio Sarri appears to be the driving force behind Lazio’s pursuit of a full-back he worked with closely in the Chelsea dugout.
Emerson spent the 2018/19 season alongside Sarri in West London. The veteran Biancocelesti boss was coaching Serie A giants Napoli, meanwhile, when Emerson was playing arguably the best football of his career in the unique colours of AS Roma.
According to La Repubblica, Sarri favours the 2023 Europa Conference League winner even if Emerson is not the only player under consideration by the 66-year-old tactician. Sarri also likes Fiorentina’s Fabiano Parisi, Genoa’s Aaron Martin, Ajax’s Anton Gaaei, and Aaron Cresswell.
Cresswell appears to have no future at Chelsea despite helping win the FA Cup with Crystal Palace last season.
Emerson Palmieri in action during West Ham United FC v Tottenham Hotspur FC in the Premier League
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Emerson won the Europa League under Sarri at Chelsea
Emerson looks back on his time alongside Sarri, who returns to Lazio for a second spell after coaching the Biancocelesti from 2021 to 2024, pretty fondly.
The now-30-year-old left-back featured in the starting XI as Sarri’s Chelsea destroyed London rivals Arsenal in a 4-1 Europa League final drubbing. Emerson even set up Olivier Giroud’s opener during an eventual second-half blitz in Baku.
“It has been a wonderful experience at Chelsea,” Emerson once told Sky Italia, . “First, there was [Antonio] Conte. Obviously it was easier to deal with an Italian coach.
“As for Sarri, I’ve no words for what a marvellous year we had. We finished third in the Premier League, reached the Carabao Cup final and won the Europa League. We can’t complain!”