According to Calciomercato, as cited by Metro, Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri is keen to reunite with Emerson Palmieri. The Chelsea left-back has been identified as the desired target for the Italian mastermind, having worked together at Stamford Bridge last season. It is believed Emerson will be brought in as the primary alternative for Alex Sandro, who is currently the only reliable left-back option available to Sarri at the moment.
Emerson’s mixed spell at Chelsea
Emerson joined Chelsea at the start of last year, in a €20 million move from AS Roma. He was one of the top fullbacks in Serie A before moving to the Premier League. However, he had a slow start to his career at Stamford Bridge, often being overlooked in favour of Marcos Alonso.
But, Alonso’s poor form during the end of the campaign saw Emerson become a prominent part of the Chelsea first-team. He notably featured in six of the Blues’ last 11 league games during the 2018/19 campaign.
Most importantly, Emerson’s contributions on the left flank helped the Premier League giants lift the UEFA Europa League as they beat Arsenal in the final. The Italian international was involved in 11 matches, registering two assists.
This season, Emerson was Chelsea’s first-choice left-back under new manager Frank Lampard. But, he has struggled with a hamstring injury, of late, which has paved the way for Alonso to return to the starting lineup.
Should Chelsea let go of Emerson?
Emerson is a key component in the Chelsea setup, even though he hasn’t enjoyed a comfortable ride after joining from Roma last year. His technical prowess, coupled with his ability to link-up with teammates in the final third, is ideally suited to Lampard’s style of play.
Besides, the Blues are crippled in the transfer market due to the ongoing ban. That means they will not be able to sign a replacement in the event of Emerson’s potential departure in the upcoming January transfer window.
Even if they are forced to sell at least one of their left-backs, it should be Alonso. The Spaniard has struggled with consistency ever since the departure of Antonio Conte. He has often looked tentative and has failed to provide any sense of stability in the backline. Therefore, his departure from Stamford Bridge could make sense.
As for Emerson, he is likely to play a crucial role for Chelsea not only this season but also for the foreseeable future.
