Emerson Palmieri hasn't spoken with Thomas Tuchel about a return to Chelsea this summer, but the Italian international says he would be "very happy" to come back to the club after spending the 2021/22 campaign on loan at Ligue 1 side Lyon.
The 27-year-old made the switch to France last August having fallen behind both Ben Chilwell and Marcos Alonso in the pecking order at left wing-back under Tuchel. Yet the Blues head coach stressed on multiple occasions the professionalism with which Emerson carried himself.
It's why come the winter transfer window – after Chilwell had suffered a knee ligament injury in November that ruled him out for almost five months – Chelsea made an attempt to end the Italian international's loan early. But despite having been offered a fee to cancel the loan, Lyon opted to keep Emerson.
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That is a decision the full-back understood. "Lyon said no, it didn't depend on me," Emerson told the Daily Mail. "This was a conversation between clubs and I respect this because when I signed there I signed for one year, not six months.
Lyon have an option to sign Emerson permanently from Chelsea this summer, but it's not one the Ligue 1 side are set to take up. That means a return to the Blues is expected for the defender, who could step back into the squad in the event that Alonso completes a move to Barcelona.
Emerson has confirmed he hasn't held a conversation with Tuchel as yet but is ready to return to Stamford Bridge for pre-season if called upon. "I didn’t speak just yet," Emerson said after Italy’s 3-0 defeat to Argentina on Wednesday in the 'Finalissima' at Wembley.
'For me personally, it's been a good season, I played a lot of games. Let's see what happens in the future. I have a contract with Chelsea. I've played there for three years and won some things. If I need to go back there I'm happy."
Emerson added: "Now I go back to Chelsea for pre-season and let's see in the next months. It was nice to know they wanted me [in January]. I have a contract there. It's my club for three seasons. I have a lot of friends there and if I come back there I am very happy."
