West Ham star who David Moyes loved now being chased by Champions League club
Graham Potter has pushed plenty of players out of his plans this season despite them being regulars in the 2024/25 campaign.
Potter has been keen to put his own twist on West Ham this summer, with goalkeeper Alphonse Areola cast out from the first team squad.
The blueprint of David Moyes’ largely successful side from one year ago appears to be fading, with another of his beloved stars set to depart.
Marseille plot move for West Ham star Emerson
Emerson has been absent throughout the preseason, with the Hammers boss preferring new signing El Hadji Malick Diouf over the Brazilian.
Emerson now appears to be closing in on an exit after a summer of uncertainty as he looks set to rip up his contract and join Marseille.
That is according L’Equipe, who claim the Italian could rip up his contract at the Hammers to join the Champions League outfit after being rated highly by his former manager.
Speaking in November 2023, Moyes described how the 31-year-old was underrated for his side.
“I think he’s come on brilliantly well,” Moyes said.
- Emerson was absent from the matchday squad against Sunderland and Chelsea
- The 31-year-old has one more year left on his contract at the London Stadium
- There is an option to extend that by another season, should the Hammers trigger it
“Probably since the final or just before it, he was beginning to find a bit of form and the I think in the final he was probably the best player on the pitch. He was Man of the March – Jarrod [Bowen] was with the goal, but with the way Emo [ Emerson] played.
“I think he’s played really well for us. He’s got a really good connection with Lucas Paqueta, which gives us something in there’s been a bit of development in that.
“I think Emo has done really well. I think he’s been consistent and steady and wouldn’t get mentioned at the moment because there’s a lot of mention of Paquetá or Mo [Kudus] or Jared, but I think Emerson is probably playing as well as anybody.”
Graham Potter won’t be a popular man amongst the players
For Potter to come in and separate so many former regulars from the first team won’t make him a popular man amongst the players.
| Moyes | Stat | Potter |
| 34 | Appearances | 12 |
| 2,387 | Minutes | 852 |
| 2 | Goals | 1 |
| 2 | Assists | 0 |
The West Ham boss had previously offloaded the defender during their brief time together at Chelsea, and Potter clearly isn’t a fan of the Brazilian.
Given that the likes of Lucas Paqueta are now pushing to leave, it doesn’t appear that the Hammers boss is a popular man in East London, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him lose his job in the coming weeks.
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