According to a recent report by Calcio Mercato, Serie A powerhouse Juventus and Inter Milan are both said to be keen on acquiring the services of Chelsea’s Brazilian-born Italian full-back Emerson Palmieri in the summer.
It has been suggested that both clubs, headed by former Chelsea head coaches, are interested in acquiring the defender and they have already made contact with the Blues and the player’s entourage. The fact that both Juventus and Inter Milan want Emerson could make the former Roma man’s final decision that much more difficult.
What Is Emerson’s Current Situation At Chelsea?
The Italian full-back arrived during a period when this Chelsea team were desperate for a player who would be an upgrade on Marcos Alonso. Initially touted to be a name with an extremely well-rounded skill-set, Emerson’s start to life at Chelsea wasn’t the most pleasant. Despite being given quite a few opportunities along the way, he never really managed to capture the imagination of the home fans.
The 25-year-old tends to position himself decently well in the defensive phase but isn’t nearly as effective as Alonso while going forward. Although the Brazilian-origin defender did show glimpses of quality in the final third during his initial days, things have gradually slowed down. The Italian just doesn’t have the intensity or composure required to become first-choice at what is arguably one of the most challenging positions to take up in the Premier League.
Chelsea’s search for an alternate left-back has been no secret and given the former Roma man’s numbers this season; it’s perhaps not overly surprising. The Santos academy graduate has played in a total of 52 appearances for the Blues since joining from the Serie A – a period during which he’s only managed one goal and five assists. On the other hand, Chelsea’s alternate left-back option – Marcos Alonso, has four goals and three assists from his 11 league fixtures just this season.
Emerson meanwhile played in 14 league matches this term but didn’t manage a single goal contribution along the way. While the fact that he’s still only 25 could come as a slight motivation for Lampard to keep him, the Italian’s poorly built skill-set isn’t a viable option for a team as big as Chelsea. The difference in quality down the flank when Lampard decided to bring Alonso back into the team this season was clear as day.
Juventus And Inter Milan Want Emerson: Should Lampard Look To Sell?
The west London club has been one of the most successful teams in the whole of Europe over the last two decades, and starting a sub-standard player like Emerson every week isn’t acceptable by the massive standards Chelsea have set for themselves over time. While Alonso’s defending is far from the best, the fact that he still offers more than Emerson to the side is a worrying factor and keeping a player with such minimal output wouldn’t make even a sliver of sense from the Chelsea perspective.
