Chelsea could be set to receive a welcome financial boost as former boss Antonio Conte wants to be reunited with some of his old players at Inter Milan.
The Italian is reportedly on the verge of making a £19million bid for left-back Emerson Palmieri.
According to Goal, Inter are also keen on following up their long-term interest in Olivier Giroud.
It is claimed Emerson is happy at Stamford Bridge and wants to be Frank Lampard’s long-term successor for Marcos Alonso.
But the Blues have other plans as they are plotting a move for Leicester full-back Ben Chilwell.
Chelsea chief Marina Granovskaia has made it clear that players must be sold before new faces arrive in the door because the club has already spent over £80million on Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner.
Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz has worked his way to the top of Lampard’s wishlist but his £90m price tag is off-putting.
Chelsea are working on a way to get that fee reduced as they are only willing to pay around £70m.
Some of that will have to come from outgoing sales and Conte’s bid for Emerson will be a big boost.
The 25-year-old’s exit will pave the way for Chilwell to join Chelsea so long as his £70m valuation is met.
And former Blues hero Joe Cole thinks the 23-year-old England International would be a brilliant addition to Lampard’s squad.
“Similar to Werner, he fits the ethos – he is young, he’s hungry, he’s explosive and athletic,” Cole told BT Sport.
“I think he’s got a lot of talent, if he comes to Chelsea, working with the group there – in Brendan [Rodgers] he’s got a great manager and a great team up at Leicester. But Chelsea’s a step up from Leicester.
“I know they are sitting above Chelsea in the table at the moment but having the opportunity to work with Frank and improve would be immense for him. “He’s got the left-back position for England in his hands at the moment.
“My advice would be to keep performing, keep consistent and if he does do that he can be England’s left-back and, if he does come to Chelsea, Chelsea’s left-back for many years. He’s a terrific player, a real talent.”
