Transfer Centre

Lazio 'plotting transfer raid for Chelsea duo'

By Matthew Tranter, Reporter | 22 July 2022

Lazio boss Maurizio Sarri is plotting a transfer raid on his former club Chelsea for two of their players this summer, according to reports.

Lazio boss Maurizio Sarri has plotted a transfer raid on his former club Chelsea for two of their players this summer, according to reports.

The 63-year-old endured a mixed spell in charge at Stamford Bridge in the 2018-19 season, before leaving to join Juventus after just one year in the Premier League.

One player that could join Sarri in making the move from West London to Italy is Emerson Palmieri, according to journalist Nicolo Schira, via The Sun.

The 27-year-old spent last season on loan at Ligue 1 side Lyon having struggled to nail down a regular first-team spot at Chelsea since making the £17.6m move from Roma in 2018.

The full-back would go on to make 36 appearances for the French club, who struggled to an eighth-placed finish, but Schira suggests that a season-long deal to Lazio could well be an option ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.

Meanwhile, Lazio are also keen on taking Ruben Loftus-Cheek to the Stadio Olimpico this summer, according to the midfielder's agent Jonathan Barnett.

Earlier this week, the 26-year-old's representative said: "Lazio have not spoken to Chelsea as far as I'm aware. But Maurizio Sarri is a fan of Ruben and he likes Serie A. Let's see what happens."

The midfielder enjoyed some of his best football at Chelsea under Sarri during that 2018-19 campaign, in which he scored six goals and registered two assists in 24 Premier League appearances under the Italian, of which only six were starts.

Loftus-Cheek was initially linked with a move to Rome following Sarri's appointment last summer, but he remained at Stamford Bridge and would go on to make 40 appearances across all competitions for Thomas Tuchel's side, having put the worst of his career's injury problems behind him.