Chelsea left-back Emerson looks set to be handed a rare start in Italy's crucial Euro 2020 semi-final clash with Spain tonight.
According to Italian journalist Angelo Mangiante, of Sky Sports, Emerson will get the nod at Wembley after Leonardo Spinazzolo suffered a cruel Achilles tendon injury which could rule him out for up to seven months.
The Blues defender has featured just twice in the European Championships thus far, starting just once in Italy's 1-0 win over Wales in the group stages.
Emerson, who has become accustomed to playing second fiddle at Stamford Bridge since his arrival from AS Roma in 2018, has found himself playing a similar role at international level under Roberto Mancini by virtue of Spinazzola’s tremendous rise.
However, with Spinazzola carried off on a stretcher in the Azzurri’s 2-1 quarter-final win over Belgium, Emerson replaced the Roma utility man for the final 11 minutes.
With Italy's first-choice left wing-back out of the frame for a reported six to seven months, Emerson is poised to fill the void left by Spinazzola, who had been one of the most impressive players at this summer's tournament.
So with a chance for Emerson to almost put himself in the shop window on the biggest stage of all, Chelsea have reportedly placed a €25million (£21.3m) price tag on his shoulders. It comes amid reported interest from Roma, who are said to have "had contact" with Chelsea over a potential return to Italy.
The Blues defender, who started just seven games last season under Frank Lampard and Thomas Tuchel, struggled to etch his name into Lampard’s starting 11 after the arrival of Ben Chilwell from Leicester City for £45m, despite Marcos Alonso falling down the pecking order under the former boss.
After Lampard’s solid maiden season with the Blues, the pressure began to mount in his second, before his eventual dismissal in January.
The arrival of Thomas Tuchel did not spell redemption for Emerson, although the Italian went on to play an integral role in the Blues’ FA Cup run before being left out in the final at Wembley.
After failing to feature under the arch last season, Emerson will be keen to play himself into the shop window at Wembley against Spain, ahead of a busy summer transfer window.
Though Emerson lacked game time in west London, he remained a professional figure among the Blues dressing room and insisted that his absence from first-team football made him work harder.
Speaking to the Italian media in April, the Chelsea left-back expressed his fondness for Tuchel, claiming that the challenges he has faced regarding game time has allowed him to ‘evolve’.
“Managers have their preferences and we have to accept it,” he said.
“The only thing I can do is to be professional. This kind of difficulty is what makes an athlete evolve. It’s a challenge. I respect their work and they respect mine.
“None of us can afford a mistake because it can lead to losing the position.”
He added: “We’ll see what happens in June.”
