Maurizio Sarri ‘wants to raid Chelsea for Emerson Palmieri and Ruben Loftus-Cheek in double transfer swoop’
MAURIZIO SARRI is plotting an audacious double-raid of old club Chelsea this summer, according to reports.
The Lazio boss is keen to sign both Emerson Palmieri and Ruben Loftus-Cheek to bolster his squad.
The Rome giants finished just outside of the Champions League places last term, coming in fifth just six points adrift of Juventus.
And Sarri has got his eye on a pair of Chelsea fringe players to plug two gaping holes in his team, say reports.
Transfer guru has claimed the Italian chief wants Emerson - who spent last season on loan at Lyon - to be his new left-back.
Sarri has opened talks with the Blues - who are desperate to offload a huge chunk of deadwood in the squad - over a season-long loan deal.
READ MORE SPORT STORIES
Brazil-born Italy international Emerson played 36 times on loan at Lyon last year as the French giants struggled - eventually limping home in eighth in Ligue 1.
Despite joining Chelsea from Roma five years ago, Emerson has played just 33 times in the Premier League, stuck behind Marcos Alonso and Ben Chilwell in the pecking order.
Meanwhile, the Lazio boss is keen to bring Loftus-Cheek to Italy, according to the English midfielder's agent, Jonathan Barnett.
Earlier this week, Barnett claimed: "Lazio have not spoken to Chelsea as far as I’m aware.
Most read in Football
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
"But Maurizio Sarri is a fan of Ruben and he likes Serie A. Let’s see what happens."
Loftus-Cheek is rumoured to have been identified as a possible replacement for Serbian star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, who is finally expected to quit Lazio.
The Italian giants were also keen on the ten-cap England star last summer after Sarri was appointed as manager.
Loftus-Cheek enjoyed the most prolific season of his career under Sarri during their only year together in 2018-19.
He chipped in with ten goals and five assists in 40 matches in all competitions as he helped the Blues win the Europa League.
And, speaking in 2021, Loftus-Cheek revealed he loved his time playing under Sarri.
The midfielder said: "I felt like he was truthful with me. At the start, I wasn’t playing. He told me why and said if I want to play, I have to do this.
"That gave me something to work towards and eventually I started to do what he asked and I played.
Read More on The Sun
Read More on The Sun
"That gave me confidence to know that if I keep doing that, I’ll keep playing. Then you start to get more understanding of the game.
"I felt [2018-19] was a good season and in my head after that I was like ‘we kick on next season’, but I got the bad injury which halted my progression, but now it’s time to build up again."