Defensive duo on the firing line as Lampard plans January clear-out

Chelsea to part ways with Emerson Palmieri or Marcos Alonso in January

According to Goal (h/t Football.london), Chelsea manager Frank Lampard could be set to part with either Marcos Alonso or Emerson Palmieri in the January transfer window.

The Blues are coming off a brilliant summer window that saw them address key deficiencies in the squad.

Signing Ben Chilwell has proven to be a masterstroke, with the Englishman now the club’s undisputed choice at left-back. With both Emerson and Alonso now moving down a notch, one of them is expendable come the new year.

Both players have hardly featured all season for the Blues. While Emerson appears to be above Alonso in the pecking order, he has made just one brief appearance in the Premier League.

Emerson nearly moved to Juventus last summer. However, the deal fell through as the deadline approached. Serie A giants Inter Milan are also interested in securing his services.

Alonso too has hardly fared much better. The Spaniard had a falling out with Lampard after West Brom fiasco and has not featured since.

With neither player playing a key role in the squad this season, offloading one wouldn’t affect us adversely.

As things stand, it would appear that Alonso is the one who does not have a future at the club. He is yet to feature for us since September and the club has not missed him at all.

Emerson meanwhile appears to be the one attracting suitors and could fetch us better value. What the club decides to do remains to be seen.

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Chelsea are enjoying a fine run of form with players stepping up several notches. With both quality and strength in depth at his disposal, Lampard has what it takes to launch a determined title bid.

The Blues next face Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United at Stamford Bridge. Fans will be back in attendance for the first time since March.