Former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is aiming to reunite with Marcos Alonso, Olivier Giroud, and Emerson Palmieri in January as the Inter Milan boss plans a potential move for the trio, according to Tuttosport [via Football Italia].
San Siro chief executive Giuseppe Marotta has expressed his desire to sign at least two new players during the mid-season window, and those targets could be current Chelsea players.
The report also stated that Inter were considering a move for defensive midfielder N’Golo Kante, but have written the deal off as an ‘impossible target’.
French striker Giroud may well relish a move in January as he sees his first team opportunities become less frequent in Frank Lampard’s new-look side. The World Cup winner would likely go in as an immediate backup to another former Blues marksman in Romelu Lukaku.
Left-back duo Alonso and Emerson could also be looking for more regular action in the near future as summer signing Ben Chilwell has quickly leapfrogged the duo to become Lampard’s first choice in that role.
Brazil-born Italy international Emerson spent the second half of the 2019/20 season on loan in Serie A with Roma and told Sky Sports Italia he was ‘very happy’ in his inherited country.
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It comes as no surprise that ex-Stamford Bridge boss Conte would be linked with some of Chelsea’s now fringe players.
Giroud, Alonso and Emerson all played a part in Lampard’s squad last term, but it now seems the writing is on the wall for the trio and their future at the club.
Although Giroud has never been a regular starter since arriving at the Bridge, with Tammy Abraham and Timo Werner ahead in the pecking order, the 34-year-old may feel he must move on to even get a look-in at first team action.
