Ligue 1 side OGC Nice have made their opening move to land Chelsea star Emerson Palmieri this summer.
According to Fabrice Hawkins on Twitter, Ligue 1 side OGC Nice are keen to land Chelsea star Emerson Palmieri this summer.
The Italian full-back joined the Blues from AS Roma in 2018 but has failed to establish himself as a regular at Stamford Bridge. The 28-year-old played an important role in Italy’s Euro 2020 triumph last summer, but it did little to improve his prospects in west London.
Emerson spent the 2021/22 campaign on loan at French side Olympique Lyonnais. He made 36 appearances for them across all competitions, scoring once and making two assists. While the performances were not necessarily eye-catching, they showcased solidity and an ability to put in consistent displays.
However, Emerson’s chances at Stamford Bridge are limited given the options at Thomas Tuchel’s disposal. Despite Marcos Alonso’s likely exit, the Blues have Ben Chilwell and new signing Marc Cucurella to call upon. This makes Emerson at best, the club’s third-choice left-back.
At 28, he should be playing week in, week out and has the ability to star for several mid-range sides in Europe. Nice are keen to take advantage of the situation and have made their move to land the player. Chelsea are open to selling Emerson, who has also attracted attention from Atalanta and Nottingham Forest.
Nice’s decision-makers have kept tabs on the Italian ace and have reached out to Chelsea regarding a summer deal. Whether they are pursuing a loan deal or something of a permanent nature remains unclear. Either way, it would be in Chelsea’s best interests to sell a player who appears to have run his course at the Bridge.
Nice have already brought in Kasper Schmeichel and Aaron Ramsey this summer. Melvin Bard is the lone senior left-back in the squad and landing Emerson will give them an instant upgrade. Youcef Atal has proven himself to be a reliable performer on the other flank and a link-up with the Italian star could hand Nice a new dimension this season.
A move to the Allianz Riviera – Nice Stadium would benefit Emerson as the Italian would be getting regular playtime over warming the benches in London. It could all depend on whether Nice can make Chelsea an offer worth their while.
