In a recent report, Football.London revealed that Chelsea full-back Emerson Palmieri is on AS Roma’s radar this summer. It is believed that the Blues defender along with his teammate Marcos Alonso are both being eyed by Roma boss Jose Mourinho during this summer transfer window (via Football.London).
Emerson’s Growing Struggles At The English Capital Last Season
Emerson endured a frustrating season with the West London outfit as he struggled to earn regular playing time at Stamford Bridge over the past 12 months. The Santos-born left-back only made 15 appearances for Chelsea in the previous campaign, scoring one goal in the process across all competitions.
The Italy international got most of his game time in Europe where he averaged 1.2 tackles, 0.5 interceptions, 0.7 clearances, 0.5 shots, 1.2 key passes and 0.8 dribbles per 90 minutes in the UEFA Champions League last season. The 26-year-old even distributed possession with a lot of conviction after completing 87.3% of his attempted passes in European football (stats via whoscored).
Emerson’s current contract at the West London club is set to expire at the end of next season, so Thomas Tuchel would be wise to sell him for a cut-price fee this summer or else risk losing him as a free agent next year.
Should Tuchel Cash In On Emerson This Summer?
On his day, Emerson can still be a solid defensive presence down the left flank. He is a hard man to beat in a 1v1 footrace and has got the hunger to make some important interceptions for his team. The Italian sensation can clear his lines when needed and can even pull off a few driving runs on the left wing. Plus, he can whip in some inviting crosses into the opposition penalty box but the lack of game time has hampered his growth in this calendar year.
The way things have gone for Emerson at Chelsea recently, it seems highly unlikely that Tuchel will include him in his first-team plans for the new Premier League campaign. Hence, it is only fair to the player if the Blues allow him to leave so that he can get a more prominent role in top-flight football in the coming seasons.
At 26, Emerson is currently playing at the peak of his playing career which is why he should seek a move elsewhere in search of greener pastures. All in all, the Chelsea head coach should consider cashing in on the Italian defender this summer and use the funds generated from his sale to strengthen others areas of his squad before the start of the new campaign.
