'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What's the rumour?
As per reports in Goal.com, Chelsea and Roma have agreed on a $74 million deal, or €60 million (including €10 million in incentives), for the Roman duo of Edin Dzeko and Emerson Palmieri.
As stated in the report, it is understood that the deal will be completed the moment Dzeko agrees personal terms with the Blues. The report further states that, as it stands, Michy Batshuayi will not be involved in the deal - and the Belgian youngster has reportedly the subject of interest from Sevilla and Borussia Dortmund
In case you didn't know
AS Roma's director of football, Monchi, speaking on Friday said - "Whatever will be will be. I work every day to have players suitable to replace our players, my job is always to strengthen my club. If [Dzeko] leaves Roma, we'll buy another player."
Edin Dzeko has been Roma's primary weapon since signing from Manchester City - he scored 29 goals and provided 9 assists and is the top-scorer for the club this season, with 9 Serie A goals.
Emerson, meanwhile, is a promising Brazilian-born Italian left full-back who played 24 times for the Giallorossi last season but is currently on the path of recovery from a severe Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury has seen him play only 15 minutes this season.
The heart of the matter
Chelsea have been looking to strengthen their squad all January- as has been evident with the swathes of pages devoted to the same by the English press - and both players would considerably add to the squad depth - and first-team strength - of the Stamford Bridge outfit.
Rumour Rating/Probability
9/10
Antonio Conte has already confirmed the loan move of Kenedy to Chelsea which means that it is highly likely that Palmieri's move is nearly complete - as it's unlikely that the Italian would have allowed Kenedy to move without adequate cover in the wide positions.
While the fact that Chelsea have only two senior strikers is well documented and Dzeko would be the kind of big, solid, target man that Conte craves to have in his side - as his failed bid for Fernando Llorente in the summer shows.
Video
Here's Edin Dzeko at his best for Roma, a man most Premier League fans are familiar with:
And here's the much less-heralded, and in some ways much more-exciting Emerson Palmieri in action:
Author's Take
To anyone with a semblance of understanding of the Premier League, football, and the way Antonio Conte operates, it's been evident for quite some time that the Italian is not best pleased with transfer-activity of his club... this may just be the kind of move that makes the Italian happy.
