Emerson will be sweating if Tim Steidten wins Archie Brown transfer race for West Ham United
Emerson Palmieri will surely be sweating about his West Ham United starting XI spot if Tim Steidten manages to win the transfer race for left-back Archie Brown.
The Hammers technical director was pivotal to many of the club’s moves in the summer including the transfer of Jean Clair-Todibo.
While some of the transfers haven’t quite worked out as they’d have hoped, the fact that Steidten could have the opportunity to sign Brown (TBR Football, 10 November) is something that can’t be passed upon.
The left-back currently plies his trade for KAA Gent in the Belgian Pro League and has more than cemented his role in Wouter Vrancken’s team.
Indeed, the Hammers do have both Emerson and Aaron Cresswell who can be used at left-back but as both are into their 30s now, it feels like it could be time for some young talent to enter the first-team fold.
Why Archie Brown would be a stellar replacement for Emerson at West Ham United
This season, Emerson has been a solid part of Julen Lopetegui’s team but there have been times where his form has raised some questions.
Brown hasn’t yet been called up to England’s senior squad but he has represented the Three Lions’ youth teams twice, even chipping in with a goal.
Domestically, the left-back has been performing fairly well and in the 23 games he’s played for Gent this term, he’s chipped in with six goal contributions and has been used in both left-back and left-midfield.
Not only does this show the versatility he could offer Lopetegui but it also shows why West Ham are even interested in making a move for the youngster in the first place.
Emerson has more than proven his worth at the London Stadium over the last couple of seasons but if West Ham want to progress further and start regularly competing for Europe, signing Brown could well be the way for them to do that.
Of course, this would mean that the Italian would have to be benched but if it’s for the better of the team, then that might have to be a sacrifice that’s made.
In other West Ham news, a BBC reporter has shared his thoughts on the ‘peril’ Julen Lopetegui finds himself in at the moment.
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