Emerson Palmieri says he would be ‘happy’ to return to Chelsea, though he admits he’s yet to speak to Thomas Tuchel about his future at the club.
The Italian spent last season on loan at Lyon, where he made 36 appearances and scored once.
That’s one appearance short of what Emerson managed in his three previous campaigns at Chelsea and the 27-year-old is understandably keen to continue to play first-team football.
However, after agreeing a season-long loan move to Lyon, Chelsea tried to recall Palmieri in January following a season-ending injury to Ben Chilwell.
Lyon blocked that move as he had a contract until the end of the season but Palmieri now says he’d be ‘happy’ to play at Stamford Bridge next season.
‘I didn’t speak with [Tuchel] just yet,’ Emerson told Goal.
‘I have a contract with Chelsea. I played there for three seasons and I have a lot of friends there.
‘If I come back, I’ll be happy. It’s a good place and club for me. Let’s see what can happen.”
‘Lyon said ‘no’ [to a return in January] so I didn’t come back. It didn’t depend on me. Those conversations were between the clubs.
‘Lyon said ‘no’ and I respected that because when I signed there I signed for one year, not six months.
‘But now I will go back to Chelsea in the pre-season I think and let’s see what happens in the next month.’
Antonio Rudiger completed his move to Real Madrid today, after five years spent at Stamford Bridge.
Andreas Christensen is set to follow the German out of the exit door, leaving a gap in the heart of Chelsea’s defence.
Jules Kounde, the Sevilla defender, is Tuchel’s choice but he will cost around £68million.
MORE : Thibaut Courtois welcomes former Chelsea team-mate Antonio Rudiger to Real Madrid
