Antonio Conte’s men needed penalties to overcome Norwich City in the 3rd round of the FA Cup yesterday. Though they have spent a fair share of this season in the 2nd place in the points table, they cannot afford any complacency from now to the end of the season, to make sure that they qualify for the Champions League next term.
The January transfer window will give the Italian a chance to add some quality to his side and this has seen some exciting stars, linked with a move to Chelsea recently. One player, they have now opened talks to sign is AS Roma star Emerson Palmieri.
Chelsea make an approach for Palmieri:
A transfer target for Liverpool as well, Palmieri is struggling to get into the first team in Rome this season and could be shown the exit door. Roma need to sell some stars to comply with the FFP rules and have reportedly slapped a price tag of £20m on their full-back. Liverpool are still front-runners to sign him up but reports now claim that Chelsea have joined the race for his signature.
According to reports from Sky sources, Palmieri prefers a move to Chelsea to work under Conte and the Blues have made an official approach, to try and sign him this month.
What Will Palmieri Bring To London?
Having broken into the senior setup with Santos, a Brazilian outfit, the 23-year old moved to AS Roma in 2015 after spending a season on loan in Italy with Palermo. In his first season at the club, he managed 23 Serie A starts, where he picked up an assist.
However, under Eusebio Di Francesco, the left-back has fallen down the pecking order and has managed just 16 minutes of action in the Italian top flight. He has 15 appearances for the Brazil U17 side but is now an Italian national and is one of the most exciting full-backs on show in Serie A.
A strong and confident defender, who is solid in the air and with his tackling at the back, Palmieri has a flair about his game, that allows him to be effective at both ends of the field. He is smart in his positioning and is quick to make interceptions while his gifted dribbling and technical abilities allow him to create chances at the other end.
He is more comfortable playing short passes in and around the box, on the flank, and has a thunderous shot up his sleeve, that can get the better of most shot-stoppers. He also puts in decent crosses and is tailor-made for the English game.
Chances At Chelsea:
The Blues are desperate for a left-back and have been eyeing Juventus’ Alex Sandro for some time now. However, his £60m valuation is too much for Chelsea to meet, who have now turned their attention to the Roma man.
Though he does not have too much European experience, Palmieri is a complete footballer, who will improve most teams in Europe. He may not be able to knock Marcos Alonso off his first-team spot anytime soon but at 23, he is definitely ready for first-team action and is as good a backup for the Italian, as any that will be easily available this month.
At just £20m, he is an absolute bargain and with no senior backups in the left-back role, Palmieri is actually a necessity for the Blues at the moment.