Lazio are reportedly keen on Emerson Palmieri, who may be out of favour at Chelsea when the season ends.
According to Citta Celeste, Lazio are keen on signing Chelsea defender Emerson Palmieri in the summer transfer window, as Maurizio Sarri wants to reunite with his former charge. The left-back is out of favour at Stamford Bridge, with a decision on his future expected after the season.
Maurizio Sarri has kept the high levels at Lazio, despite the club finding themselves in the seventh position in the Serie A table. The team are in the race for a spot in the Europa League, although their initial objective was to qualify for the Champions League.
Sarri will certainly look to achieve those ambitions next season and hope to strengthen the squad in the upcoming transfer window. The Serie A club are in a tight position regarding finances and could choose the same route they took last season by selling some of their top players to generate funds to invest in the squad.
They are hoping to sell midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, with Manchester United interested, among other teams. The funds raised from the Serb’s transfer could help Sarri bring in players for different positions to make Lazio compete on equal footing with the current top-four.
One of the positions the Italian wants to address is the left-back area, with some targets being mentioned. One of them is Emerson Palmieri, whom Sarri knows well from his time at Chelsea. The Italian international is currently playing at Lyon on loan and is expected to be back at Stamford Bridge in the summer.
While Lyon hope to sign him permanently, their ideas could be dashed by Italian clubs vying for the left-back. Juventus are interested in Emerson, and a return to Serie A could be more enticing for the Chelsea star than continuing in Ligue 1.
Lazio, in particular, could use Sarri as a pull to lure the left-back to the club. Indeed, the report claims that the ex-Chelsea boss has already called the Italian international in order to convince him to make the move to Rome.
Emerson may not have a long-term future at Chelsea, despite Thomas Tuchel trying to recall him from his loan deal in January due to Ben Chilwell’s injury, which has ruled the Englishman out for the rest of the season.
As things stand, Lazio could ponder making an offer for the 27-year-old, although if Chelsea demand a fee more than the club could afford, Sarri might look at alternatives. They are linked with Empoli’s Fabiano Parisi, who could emerge as a cheaper alternative to Emerson in the next window.
