Lazio remain very interested in Chelsea duo Emerson Palmieri and Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Chelsea left-back Emerson Palmieri and midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek have been linked with a Stamford Bridge exit this season with Lazio interested.
The Serie A club are the club believed to be most interested in the duo, owing to the close ties both players have with I Biancocelesti boss Maurizio Sarri, who worked closely with Emerson and Loftus-Cheek during his one-year stint at Chelsea.
According to Sport Witness via Corriere del Serra’s Rome edition (h/t football.london), Lazio have an appointment planned with Chelsea to take negotiations forward.
Emerson joined the Blues midway through the 17/18 season and spent last season on loan at Olympique Lyonnais. Chelsea are expecting a fee in the region of €15m for the Euro 2020-winning left-back.
Loftus-Cheek on the other hand has been associated with the Blues for almost the entirety of his life, having joined the Chelsea academy when he was only six years old. He had loan spells at Crystal Palace and Fulham and was tipped by many to play a key figure in Chelsea’s midfield for many years to come.
However, long spells on the sidelines due to numerous injuries have marred his development along the way and has potentially prevented him from reaching his absolute peak.
Chelsea need to make room
For those who have been following Loftus-Cheek closely over the years, watching him leave will be quite sad. He grew up before our very eyes, and his immense potential promised far greater things.
Many even expected him to forge a legendary career in Chelsea colours, but that road now seems to be drawing to an unfulfilled end.
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Emerson, for all his talent, needs to play regularly and needless to say, that is just not going to happen at Chelsea. Given the circumstances, It’s best for all parties involved that a sale for the pair goes through and some much-needed funds are raised in the process.