According to a recent report by Italian news outlet Corriere Dello Sport, European super-club Juventus are said to be keen on acquiring the services of Italian international Chelsea full-back Emerson Palmieri. The former AS Roma full-back was Maurizio Sarri’s preferred option on the left flank, and it looks like the Italian tactician is eager to work with the speedster again.
The report has gone on to suggest that Juventus have decided to bring in an alternative to Alex Sandro, as Sarri looks to strengthen his side enough to be able to compete on all fronts. Although the names of Brazilian winger Willian and Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba can also be heard resonating around the Juventus camp, it is the Emerson acquisition that they seem to have prioritised.
How Did Emerson Palmieri Find His Way To Chelsea?
The Italian international was originally a product of the renowned Santos FC academy – the same youth setup that had produced players like Neymar. Although the full-back didn’t feature too much for his hometown club, it was after he made his switch to the Serie A that he began to rise to fame. His transfer to AS Roma was arranged because he was seen as a prodigious defender by the Italian side.
Even after making the move, the Italian found it extremely hard to break into the first team. Although he spent more than two years at the club over two spells, he only managed to play in 43 matches. Even though he wasn’t a regular in the Serie A, Premier League outfit Chelsea showed no reluctance in making a reasonably significant bid for the Italian’s services.
How Has Emerson Palmieri Fared At Chelsea?
The Italian international was brought in midway through Antonio Conte’s dismal year at Chelsea, and he went on to feature five times in the league that season. In the next year under Maurizio Sarri as well, the 25-year-old played in just around ten Premier League matches but played a key part on their run to the Europa League title.
This season though, things have changed at Stamford Bridge, thanks to Frank Lampard’s youth revolution. Marcos Alonso’s shocking inconsistency has meant that the Italian has featured in seven league games already this campaign. At this rate, he’s in line to trounce last season’s number before the end of the holiday period.
Would It Be Smart For Chelsea To Cash In On Emerson In January?
Although the Blues do seem to have a fairly stacked squad, one position of concern has to be left-back. While Marcos Alonso is an excellent wing-back, his defensive fragilities make him a bad option against attack-minded opposition. Despite the fact that Emerson isn’t necessarily the best at getting forward, his defensive prowess makes him the better choice for Lampard, at least in the short term.
Selling him midway through the current campaign without thinking about his replacements, and depending exclusively on Marcos Alonso in the left-back role, is the kind of move that loses title-races. The Blues have a good thing going at Stamford Bridge, and Lampard must do everything in his power to not lose any of his first-team regulars in the winter.
