Amid all the furore in recent days over so-called ‘multi-club models’, the size of West Ham United’s task was made painfully clear as a new wonderkid arrived down the road at Premier League rivals Chelsea.
Enzo Maresca’s side sealed a deal for 19-year-old centre-back Mamadou Sarr.
The teenager joins for a reported £12 million from Strasbourg. Thus, swapping one BlueCo-owned club for another. After Liam Rosenior’s side finished an impressive seventh in France’s top flight last term, inspired by a core of talented Chelsea loanees, Sarr heads to West London while Andrey Santos, Djordje Petrovic, Caleb Wiley and Diego Moreira return to their parent club.
So, with West Ham United one of a number of clubs reportedly considering a move for Strasbourg striker Emanuel Emegha, it almost goes without saying that Chelsea’s interest in the Netherlands Under-21 international places a considerable obstacle in the Hammers’ path.
Hammers News exclusively reported, via football correspondent Graeme Bailey, that Emanuel Emegha has admirers at West Ham.
The Hague-born 22-year-old scored 14 Ligue 1 goals in a stunning breakout campaign. Tall and gangly yet elegant and smoother on his feet than Fred Astaire in roller skates, Emegha is a centre-forward cut from the same cloth as Alexander Isak with Strasbourg reportedly valuing their talisman at an affordable £20 million.
Strasbourg president Marc Keller speaks out on West Ham United target Emanuel Emegha
Reports emerging late last month claimed that Chelsea had moved into pole position for Emegha. After Strasbourg fell short in their pursuit of European football, there is suddenly very little in the UEFA rules to stop The Blues from getting their man, and pipping West Ham to the post.
Though Marc Keller, Strasbourg’s president, appears to have his own plans for a striker who still has three years left on his contract.
“We [previously] had to make a sale every 18 months because the club needed it,” Keller explains. “What you have to remember is that we want the best possible team to be ambitious.
“We’re trying to keep him. We want to build further with him. Our ideal [scenario] is to keep him.”
Emegha likens himself to Victor Osimhen as Stamford Bridge rumours swirl
The 6ft 5ins Emegha recently named Victor Osimhen as his idol. There are certainly shades of the Galatasaray superstar in the way he leads the line with searing pace and a relentless work ethic.
“[Emegha] is a cut above other number nines in Ligue 1 in terms of sprints, defensive sprints and sheer speed,” former Liverpool midfielder-turned-analyst Bruno Cheyrou tells the Ligue 1 YouTube channel, highlighting his work rate, his composure and his ability to pick the right finish at the right time.
“I can tell you that, when you have such a generous striker, it galvanises the rest of the team.”
However, after Chelsea completed the signing of Ipswich Town talisman Liam Delap and with the Blues seemingly hot on the heels of Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, Marc Keller may yet get his wish.
Do not be surprised if Chelsea eventually agree a deal and loan Emegha back to Strasbourg for the 2025/26 season.
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