Juventus are interested in signing Chelsea duo Olivier Giroud and Emerson Palmieri
According to a report by Italian outlet Il Bianco Nero (h/t Daily Mail), Juventus are interested in bringing in Chelsea duo Emerson Palmieri and Olivier Giroud to Turin.
Giroud has been looking for more game-time as he has not grappled well with his role as a benchwarmer at Chelsea. With the 2020 UEFA Euros starting next summer, Giroud would be even more desperate to secure starts as he vies to secure a place in the French national team. (h/t Daily Mail)
Giroud has previously expressed in an interview that his lack of game-time at Chelsea ‘is worrying’. and has since drawn interest from his ex-manager Antonio Conte at Inter Milan, and from Andrea Pirlo at Juventus. (h/t Daily Mail)
“It’s worrying. I thought I still had a role to play at Chelsea but my playing time is getting reduced a lot. It’s going to have to change or a decision must be made.”
Pirlo is reportedly interested in signing the 34-year-old striker and Italian left-back Emerson in a bid to strengthen his team and rescue his first season in charge of the club which has seen them drop to 4th in the table.
Luckily for Pirlo, signing Giroud might not be the most difficult task, considering Frank Lampard’s view that the Frenchman will not be stopped from leaving if he wants to.
“I have a very good relationship with Oli and if ever he felt that it was going to go a different way then I would happily have that conversation with him. But I want him to stay here. I’m open both ways if that ever changes but at the moment he is very important for us.”
Giroud may not have started a single league game for Chelsea this season but Lampard’s words highlight that the club still has a place for him. However, the same cannot be said for Emerson Palmieri.
The 26-year-old left-back has fallen way below the pecking order and is the club’s third-choice left-back behind Ben Chilwell and Marcos Alonso. He has been reduced to cameo appearances in his time at Chelsea and Juventus are one of the clubs that are reportedly interested in him. (h/t Daily Mail)
Chelsea have a reliable strike-pairing of Tammy Abraham and Werner up front and ample cover in the left-back position. Therefore, any deal that sees Giroud and Emerson leave would not be surprising.