If Emerson Palmieri becomes the latest highly-experienced player to leave West Ham United this summer, the Brazil-born Italy international could find himself joining a very exclusive club.
A club which may be about to receive a 19th member.
Despite having decided against handing Aaron Cresswell a new contract – the long-serving West Ham left-back leaves after eleven years of loyal service – Graham Potter could be about to part with another defensive southpaw.
Emerson Palmieri found minutes elusive under Potter. A £13 million signing from Chelsea back in 2022, Emerson was nowhere to be seen as West Ham United brought the curtain down with a 3-1 final day victory over Ipswich Town.
And, according to The Guardian, West Ham are now ‘inviting’ offers for a footballer who will turn 31 in August.
But if Emerson is destined to depart the London Stadium with the good grace of a fanbase who have grown to admire the lung-busting left-back during three years in claret and blue, a controversial switch to Lazio may see his face adorn many a Giallorrosi dartboard.
West Ham United defender Emerson Palmieri could return to Italy with Lazio
Emerson became a bonafide fan favourite amongst a famously impassioned Roma support during his time at the Stadio Olimpico. He blossomed into one of the finest young left-backs in European football, too, before that 2018 switch to Stamford Bridge.
Five years on, Emerson is reportedly in line for a return to the city where he made his name. Not with Roma, however, but with their bitter rivals Lazio.
Reporter Alfredo Pedulla, writing in La Laziali, claims that Emerson may become only the 19th player ever to play on both sides of the Rome divide. He has been identified as a potential replacement for the Saudi-linked former Arsenal benchwarmer Nuno Tavares.
If Emerson does indeed return to his old stomping ground to wear the sky blue shirt, he will follow in the footsteps of Pedro, Alessio Romagnoli and Aleksandr Kolarov in making one of the most contentious moves in Italian football.
Only 18 players have ever worn the shirts of both Roma and Lazio, after all.
Emerson could reunite with former Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri
Lazio recently brought Maurizio Sarri back to the Stadio Olimpico after missing out on European football last season under Marco Baroni.
Sarri worked with Emerson during his time in the Chelsea dugout. A potential switch to the Biancocelesti would also see the Santos-born full-back reunite with one-time Blues forward Pedro; the evergreen 37-year-old coming off the back of his most prolific campaign since 2019.
“It has been a wonderful experience at Chelsea,” Emerson told Sky Italia when reflecting on his time in West London. “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!”
Should Emerson follow Cresswell out the door, that would leave Ollie Scarles as the only senior left-back at Graham Potter’s disposal.
Scarles won West Ham’s Young Player of the Year award at the conclusion of a breakout 2024/25 campaign, and the 19-year-old is keen to follow in Cresswell’s footsteps with a starting spot now very much up for grabs.
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