According to reports, Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri has his eyes on former player Emerson Palmieri. The former Blue boss is interested in bringing the Italian defender back to Serie A next summer.

Emerson moved to Premier League side Chelsea from AS Roma in January 2018 when Sarri was at the London club. He was a regular starter in the second half of the last campaign.

The former Palermo defender made 27 appearances across all competitions last season and was instrumental to Chelsea’s Europa League triumph. He won the FA Cup in his first season at the club.

Emerson has also enjoyed a good spell under Frank Lampard this season before sustaining an injury that ruled him out for a month.

Calciomercato reports that Sarri is keen on reuniting with the left-back, and Juventus could contact Chelsea for the defender during the summer transfer window. Emerson had earlier been linked with a move to Juventus during the last summer window, but the Italian giants could not secure his signatures.

Sarri is reportedly on the look-out for another left-back, with Alex Sandro the only natural left-back at Juventus, and he is currently out with a hamstring injury. The Old Lady has had to rely on right-back Mattia de Sciglio and centre-midfielder Blaise Matuidi for the left-back role.

However, Chelsea may not be interested in parting ways with Emerson. His exit from the club will leave them with only Marcos Alonso as the natural left-back. The English club is under a transfer ban till next summer, and a transfer in the winter window may also not materialize.

Emerson struggled when he first arrived at Stamford Bridge, but he has since improved on his game. The 25-year-old has displaced Alonso at the left-back this season. He was expected to put pen to papers for a new five-year contract earlier in the season.

Written by: Olayemi Susan