Chelsea are still working to try and secure a deal to bring Emerson Palmieri back to the club this window.
Chelsea are likely to have to end up paying some sort of compensation to Lyon for, which is allegedly going to be around £3.3m if they can secure it, according to Fabrizio Romano.
But he also claims that Lyon have rejected our advances twice now and the move is ‘not easy.’
According to Nizaar Kinsella of Goal, Emerson is happy to return to Chelsea, which is surprising as well as refreshing.
Further to this, multiple reports in France now say that Lyon are looking for their Emerson replacement and are working on signing Layvin Kurzawa from PSG, which would suggest that they are more willing now to do a deal to send Emerson back.
Thomas Tuchel has been more than happy for this to be our option to come in and replace Ben Chilwell, despite claims of a PR stunt. As I’ve reported all week, Tuchel likes Emerson as a person and as a player and he believes he will give us enough cover on the left flank to continue being competitive until Chilwell returns.
Emerson could soon now be returning to Stamford Bridge, but Romano also claims Chelsea have a plan B… For me, I think the Emerson return will be done soon though and that is what my sources still believe. I asked on Tuesday afternoon and they believe that Lyon want a replacement advanced before agreeing, but Chelsea pushing either way.
But who could the plan B, be? I’m assured that it isn’t Lucas Digne, he is now too far into another move. Romano says it wont be Ryan Bertrand either, despite whispers of that being a possibility. Sky Sports today report that Chelsea are still considering bringing back Ian Maatsen from Coventry, so he could still become an option even though we had been told weeks ago now he would be staying at Coventry.
Thomas Tuchel was coy on it all today and had no updates for us. *But we have the general consensus here that it will still be Emerson returning.
*Since writing this article French outlet L'Equipe claim that Lyon have once again rejected our latest attempt to bring Emerson back. I’ll look into it again today and see what is going on.
Simon Phillips
€4m to get a player that isn't even Lyon's is probably the easiest money they will ever make! Lol