They say things come in threes and in terms of good news that is certainly the case for West Ham United this week.
Positive vibes have been sorely lacking at West Ham so far this season.
Everyone knows West Ham are massive.
But Julen Lopetegui’s tenure has been massively underwhelming thus far.
It is still early days and far too soon to be hitting any panic buttons just yet.
There’s no hiding it’s been pretty dismal on and off the pitch in the wake of an exciting summer.
The Hammers were billed as having ‘won the transfer window’.
But football isn’t played on paper and no trophies are handed out for that particular “achievement”.
More much-needed good news at West Ham
Time will tell whether that bears any truth come the end of a season where qualifying for Europe is the stated aim.
West Ham have just one Premier League win. The team has made some unwelcome history by losing their first three home league games of the season.
The manager has even managed to get injured and is having run-ins with star players.
So there’s not been too much to shout about for the Irons.
Until this week.
Two amazing pieces of positive news emerged at West Ham yesterday.
Now there’s more much-needed good news at West Ham as a deal is done for a fading star’s replacement.
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Deal done for fading star’s replacement at West Ham
There aren’t too many Hammers players who can say they’ve played consistently well in 2024 let alone this season.
That extends to a player who had become one of the team’s most reliable – Emerson Palmieri.
After a poor start to life at West Ham following his £13.5m move from Chelsea, Emerson came into his own from that Europa Conference League semi-final against AZ Alkmaar onwards.
But since the turn of the year he, like so many others, have been well off it for the Hammers.
Linked with moves to Milan and Turkey in the summer, Emerson has not looked like the swashbuckling star who made himself a real fan favourite.
Speaking on Sky Sports on Monday Night Football, Jamie Carragher singled Emerson out for criticism for his part in West Ham conceding after just 38 seconds at Brentford.
“This is just about being alive and pace and energy,” Carragher said.
“West Ham don’t look alive, especially the left-back there Emerson. He’s been done on the first run initially, Ajer puts the ball in and look at Emerson, he’s got to be closer, and he’s got to be aggressive.”
That neatly encapsulates how many have felt about Emerson’s performances this year.
Emerson has now turned 30 and his back-up is Aaron Cresswell, soon to be 35 and likely in his final season.
So it’s clear that left-back is a position that needs addressing at West Ham in the near future.
Well now the club has done exactly that.
Scarles signs new deal and he’s a cert to succeed Emerson
Because arguably the most highly-rated of West Ham’s Academy stars has signed a new contract with the club after lots of speculation.
A host of top talent has left West Ham’s academy for the likes of Man City, Arsenal and other rival clubs in recent years.
Ollie Scarles will not be one of them, though.
The 18-year-old is very highly-rated by Mark Noble and Lopetegui, who has included him in first-team training sessions on numerous occasions already.
In one of those sessions, Scarles whet the appetite about what he will eventually bring to West Ham’s first team.
Footage showed Scarles matching Aaron Wan-Bissaka for pace.
The Hammers teenager has already showed great versatility too, playing in central midfield for the youth team this season, as well as his usual left-back position.
Noble: ‘Scarles has ability to be first team star for Hammers’
Now he has penned a new long-term deal with the club he’s been at since he was 11.
Scarles says he is aiming to break into the first team.
And Noble says it was clear from day one he has the ability to do just that.
“By continuing to put the work in, I’m hoping to eventually break into that first team,” Scarles told West Ham’s website.
“Hopefully we can make it into Europe and there will be even more opportunities!”
Noble knew Scarles had the potential to follow in his footsteps by becoming a first team star at West Ham from the moment he laid eyes on him.
“I remember as a player going to Chadwell Heath and watching the younger age groups train, and you could tell Ollie had what it took to play in the first team,” sporting director Noble said.
“He’s already done that in Europe, under David Moyes, and he’s been in and around the first team ever since. It’s so important that we as a Club do the right thing and ensure the best pathways for our players and Ollie is definitely one of them.
“I’ve sat with him many times and talked about the high hopes we have for him. It’s over to him now. We’ve shown that belief with this contract extension and now it’s up to him to keep working hard.”
Keep the good news coming West Ham.
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