CHELSEA and Napoli are reportedly in talks over a loan deal for Emerson Palmieri.
Repubblica claims the Italy left-back, 26, could be set to join Tiemoue Bakayoko at the San Paolo this winter.
Chelsea and Napoli are in talks over a loan for Emerson PalmieriCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Emerson hasn’t made a single Premier League appearance this season following the £50million arrival of Ben Chilwell from Leicester.
And Chelsea could now send him to Napoli on loan before letting the Serie A side make the deal permanent next summer.
Emerson joined Chelsea from Roma in January 2018 for £17.5m.
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He has made just 59 appearances, struggling to hold down a place under Antonio Conte, Maurizio Sarri and Frank Lampard.
Reports claim Emerson is one of five players Lampard wants to sell as he raises funds for West Ham’s Declan Rice.
Bakyoko is already on the verge of staying at Napoli for £16m.
Antonio Rudiger is another who is free to leave, with Barcelona linked to the German centre-back.
Olivier Giroud will also be allowed to find a new club as he looks to secure his place in France’s starting XI for the Euros.
Danny Drinkwater is the fifth player Chelsea want to get rid of.
The Blues hope to raise a total of £67m after splashing £226m on seven new players over the summer.
But that still leaves them £13m shy of West Ham’s £80m asking price for Rice.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk