Report: West Ham in the race against Tottenham to sign Emerson

According to several reports surging from the media, Premier League club, West Ham United, have joined in on the race to sign Brazilian defender Emerson in this summer transfer window.

This also means that the Hammers are now set to battle their Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Newcastle United in a bid to secure the signing of the Real Betis defender.

After parting ways with Pablo Zabaleta and Jeremy Ngakia, whose contract expired last month, West Ham is left with only Ryan Federicks at the right-back position for the club with the team currently only three points above the relegation zone on the League table. This led to the club manager David Moyes to seek out Academy graduate Ben Johnson for the remainder of the 19/20 Premier League campaign.

The report coming from Spanish Outlet Mundo Deportivo now claims that the London club is the newest club to express their interest in Real Betis full-back Emerson.

The 21-year-old Brazilian is reported to be co-owned by both Barcelona and Atletico Minero. He was sent on loan to Betis during the winter transfer window back in 2019 from Minero, who made an agreement with Barcelona to have the Brazilian join the Catalonians after two seasons with Betis. Barcelona has the option to land the player a year early but will have to pay an extra €3 million to Betis, with football bets today placing interesting odds on players to be sold and bought this summer.

Emerson has been impressive for Real Betis this 19/20 campaign, with 30 league matches and three goals to his name; he helped the club to the 13th position on the La Liga table. He has made a total of 31 appearances for the club so far this season.

With the Catalan giants facing several financial issues, just like every other club, due to the coronavirus outbreak that caused a huge loss of revenue everywhere. The Spanish giant might be willing to sell Emerson this summer as a way to help them raise funds, which they are in need of.

Mundo Deportivo further claims that the Brazilian full-back will very much prefer to remain in Spain to fight for his spot. Willing or not, he might not have much of a say in any negotiations.

In other news, West Ham United have been reported to be also interested in signing Cedric Kipre, who plays as a centre back for the EFL Championship club Wigan Athletic, this summer.

With Wigan entering administration, several players of the club will be leaving on a not-so-expensive platter in the summer transfer window. And just like how it was for Emerson, the Hammers will also be facing stiff competition from their league rival Watford, who is also keen on the defender having scouted him several times over some matches back.

Kipre, who should be the Latics’ most in-demand player this summer, joined the club from Scottish club Motherwell during the summer transfer window of 2018. He has made up to 70 appearances for the Championship club since his arrival at the DW Stadium.

From what we know, West Ham manager Moyes seems to have developed an interest in the French-born defender. It might be a long battle against Watford, but if Moyes is able to play his cards right he might just be able to land Kipre this summer otherwise opt for another target of his.