Thomas Tuchel handed Marcos Alonso replacement boost after Chelsea January transfer failing

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.

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