Emerson Palmieri has shown public support for teammate Niclas Fullkrug’s return to training, even as both players face uncertain futures at West Ham United.
The backing was spotted on social media this week, with Fullkrug sharing a return-to-training post and Emerson among the players giving it a like.
But behind the scenes, both may be heading toward the exit under new boss Graham Potter, who’s already starting to reshape the squad.
Fullkrug’s West Ham Future in Doubt Despite Training Return
Niclas Fullkrug’s Instagram post from Rush Green marked his return after a tough, injury-plagued season. He captioned the pic, “Back at Rush Green! Let’s get to work!” and received support from teammates including Emerson Palmieri, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Dinos Mavropanos.
Since joining from Borussia Dortmund, Fullkrug scored just three goals and missed 28 games, raising major fitness concerns. Despite showing quality in flashes, he never fully settled into Premier League life. West Ham’s low goal return last season—just 46 in total, one of the lowest in the league—has added more pressure on the striker’s place in the squad.
Football Insider has reported that the club is considering cutting ties with Fullkrug due to both performance doubts and his significant wages, especially with Potter’s new plans demanding movement in the transfer market.
Emerson Palmieri Also Facing Pressure After Diouf Arrival
While Fullkrug’s place hangs in the balance, Emerson Palmieri’s future is also up in the air. The Italy international had a fairly quiet campaign and may be one of the players moved on to make way for new faces. Recent reports suggest Potter isn’t ruling anything out as he looks to shift both personnel and style.
West Ham have agreed a deal to bring in El Hadji Malick Diouf from Slavia Prague, with the 20-year-old left-back having had his medical yesterday. His addition would bring real competition for spots on the left side, and the timing doesn’t bode well for Emerson, who could now be surplus to requirements under the incoming system.
With Potter keen to bring in younger, more dynamic profiles across the back line, Emerson may now be among the first high-profile exits as West Ham’s rebuild gets going.
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