West Ham United spent a lot of the summer season window chasing a brand new left-back recruit, with the likes of Borna Sosa and David Raum having been linked with a transfer to the London Stadium, earlier than the eventual seize of Emerson Palmeri from Chelsea.
Whereas the Italy worldwide has supplied sturdy competitors for the ageing Aaron Cresswell, there are nonetheless maybe doubts over his suitability at each the membership and in English soccer, having spent the previous few seasons solid out at their Premier League rivals.
The Brazil-born defender made simply 71 appearances throughout his four-year stint at Stamford Bridge – solely 54 of which got here from the beginning – having spent the 2021/22 marketing campaign on mortgage at Ligue 1 aspect, Lyon.
Equally, at 28, the previous Roma man is doubtlessly extra of a short-term match for David Moyes’ aspect, along with his arrival late within the window maybe suggesting he hadn’t been a primary alternative possibility for the Irons and sporting director Rob Newman.
One man who could nicely have supplied a greater and younger possibility was that of Tyrell Malacia, with the brand new Manchester United gem having reportedly been a goal for GSB over the summer season previous to his £14.7m transfer to Previous Trafford.
In response to journalist Fabrizio Romano, West Ham had been eyeing a transfer for the promising Dutchman, with the switch insider stating: “What I can reveal is that the day after the official settlement between Lyon and Malacia, additionally West Ham – earlier than signing Emerson Palmieri, in fact, a very long time earlier than – tried to enter into the story for Tyrell Malacia.
“That they had a direct contact with the participant’s aspect then no settlement [between] Malacia and West Ham, he determined to go to Lyon however Manchester United hijacked the deal and so altering the entire story for the Dutch left-back.”
Who’s the higher participant?
Malacia
Emerson
That failure to land the 23-year-old from former membership Feyenoord has doubtlessly already come again to chew Moyes and co, with the diminutive menace proving an prompt hit on the Theatre of Goals following what’s been a string of spectacular shows thus far.
The Netherlands worldwide – in addition to Pink Devils teammate Lisandro Martinez – has caught the attention on account of his “composure and relentless tenacity”, as described by journalist Jonathan Shrager, after ousting Luke Shaw from his beginning berth following a troublesome begin to the season for Erik ten Hag’s males.
The six-cap “pitbull” – as lauded by nationwide group coach Louis Van Gaal – has showcased his dogged defensive dedication in latest instances, highlighted by the truth that he ranks within the prime 11% for tackles made amongst these in his place throughout Europe’s prime 5 leagues, whereas the aforementioned Emerson ranks in simply the prime 60% for a similar metric.
Malacia has additionally averaged 2.2 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per sport in his six league outings thus far this time period, with {that a} much better return than that of the Hammers man who has averaged zero tackles and simply 0.5 interceptions, as per SofaScore.
For a “defensive supervisor” similar to Moyes – as dubbed by talkSPORT’s Danny Murphy – it might be a priority that his new addition is producing such poor statistics within the backline, with it a possible supply of frustration that Newman was unable to signal the rising Previous Trafford hero as an alternative.
