Ipswich Town striker Emersonn has revealed his personal target is to score 10 Premier League goals in his debut season. The Brazilian, a club-record £26.5m summer signing from Toulouse, has made a promising start with two goals and an assist from his first five starts.
Emersonn gave his assessment of the league and his ambitions in an interview with Premier League Studios. "It's an intense league, very physical, high tempo all the time," he said. The 22-year-old noted the tactical demands and constant transitions in England compared to Ligue 1.
He believes his physical attributes will help him succeed. "Luckily, I'm tall and have a strong physique. I'll bring some goals," Emersonn said. "The target was to score 10. Let me get to that first and see if I can get past that a little."
His ambition aligns with the club's need for a consistent scorer. Only six players netted 15 or more Premier League goals last season, with a further 15 reaching double figures. Ipswich's top scorer in their last Premier League campaign was Liam Delap with 12.
Manager Gary O'Neil, who saw Emersonn's potential while managing Strasbourg, has asked fans for patience with the young forward. He described the signing as a 'project' who may need time to adapt despite his early impact.
Emersonn is currently the team's top scorer this season with his two goals. Ipswich sit 11th in the Premier League with six points from five games. Their next match is at home to 19th-placed Fulham on Saturday.
The squad recently returned from a warm-weather training camp in Spain during the international break, where they beat Espanyol 1-0 in a friendly. Ten other Ipswich players were away on international duty.
Emersonn's primary focus remains the team's survival. "My dream is to keep the team in the Premier League and try to bring a lot of goals and assists," he stated. Competition for places is fierce, with Zian Flemming scoring a debut winner and Chuba Akpom finding the net against Manchester United and Arsenal already.
The Blues' immediate task is to halt a run of two consecutive league defeats when they host Fulham at Portman Road this weekend. Check the latest standings to see how the table looks ahead of the match.
The original report is at Ipswich Star
