Inter Milan prepared to bid £25m for Chelsea full-back Emerson

Any move for the Italy international is likely to hinge on whether Chelsea are able to bring in a replacement in January

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Inter Milan are prepared to offer Chelsea £25m for Emerson Palmieri, but any move will hinge on whether Frank Lampard’s side can bring in a replacement in January.

Left-backs Emerson and Marcos Alonso have both fallen out of favour under Lampard, however, either departure would leave Chelsea even shorter on options in what is already seen as the team’s most vulnerable position.

Emerson was sacrificed after just 34 minutes during Chelsea’s 2-1 win against Arsenal on Sunday when Lampard reverted to a back-four.

The Independent understands Juventus have also shown an interest in the 25-year-old, who joined Chelsea on a four-and-a-half-year contract in January 2018, but Antonio Conte’s side are considered the more likely destination if any move was sanctioned.

It’s well-known that Ben Chilwell is Lampard’s preferred target at left-back, but Leicester have been bullish about not selling any key players in January after their fantastic start to the season.

“There’ll be no one leaving in January. Categorically,” Brendan Rodgers said recently when questioned about the interest.

Nice full-back Youcef Atal was being monitored as a viable back-up option by Chelsea before the Algerian was forced to undergo knee surgery at the start of the month.