Here is your Chelsea morning digest on Thursday, January 6.
Chilwell plan is clear
According to Goal, Chelsea are attempting to recall Emerson Palmieri from his loan spell at Lyon.
With Ben Chiwell now out for the remainder of the season, Marcos Alonso is the only natural left-back for the European champions to call upon.
While the report claims that Lucas Digne is an option for Chelsea, it is said that they are trying their best to bring Emerson back first.
A move for Digne could be made more complicated, as well, with Newcastle United, West Ham United and Napoli also interested in the Everton left-back, according to Sky Sports.
Merson slams Tuchel
Paul Merson has criticised Thomas Tuchel for his decision to drop Romelu Lukaku in Chelsea's draw with Liverpool at the weekend.
Following Lukaku's brutally honest and open interview that was released last week, Tuchel chose to leave the striker out of his squad to take on Liverpool on Sunday evening.
Lukaku has since apologised, but Merson does not think the Chelsea boss did the right thing by leaving his £97.5million signing out of the squad.
The former Arsenal midfielder, when asked if the handling of the Lukaku situation was a victory for Tuchel, told Sky Sports: "No, not really. Why would it be a victory?
"Chelsea had to beat Liverpool to have any chance of winning the Premier League. They had to beat Liverpool and then Manchester City in their next game to have any chance, but for me, he's chopped his nose off to spite his face.
"Lukaku is going to play for Chelsea again, so why not play him against Liverpool? It's not like he's never going to play for Chelsea again. If that was the case and he's not going to play for Chelsea again, then I could understand it, but it not, why do it?"
What Romelu Lukaku did to Tottenham fans in Carabao Cup after controversial Chelsea interview
Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku hit back at the Spurs fans during the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg tie between the two bitter London rivals.
Lukaku, 28, has been in the news recently due to controversial comments he made on his displeasure at Chelsea and more specifically, his desire to return to Inter Milan.
Additionally, it was always going to be interesting to see what sort of reception the disgruntled No.9 was going to get from the Blues fanbase who he had openly apologised to in the build-up to this midweek London derby.
As per football.london's Chelsea writer Adam Newson, it was a 'largely positive' reaction which will come as a relief to Thomas Tuchel who called for fans to unite in support of the Belgian international.
His tweet read: 'For what it's worth, Romelu Lukaku's name has just been read out here at Stamford Bridge and it was given a largely positive reception.'
Read what Lukaku did here.
