Many people believed that when Chelsea signed Romelu Lukaku in the summer they'd added the final piece to the jigsaw puzzle and would be strong challengers for the Premier League title - it's all gone a bit wrong since then.
Thomas Tuchel's side endured a torrid December, picking up just four wins from their nine outings in all competitions, a dip in form that now sees them 10 points behind reigning Premier League champions Manchester City.
Absences to some key players have played a huge part in the recent slump, perhaps none more so than first-choice left-back Ben Chilwell.
The England international is expected to miss the remainder of the season, leaving Marcos Alonso as the club's go-to left wing-back.
Alonso has been heavily criticised at times throughout his Chelsea career and Tuchel is now understood to be keen to address the issue in the January transfer market.
Lucas Digne has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, though an interesting possible scenario has recently emerged in which Chelsea could recall Italy international Emerson from his loan spell with Lyon.
Carefree Chelsea’s writer and presenter Daniel Childs spoke to football.london's Chelsea correspondent, Adam Newson (AN), on the Back Page show, and Tuchel's wing-back woes were understandably top of the agenda.
AN: “People may want a new signing but Tuchel wants Emerson back. The reasons for that are quite strong actually if you think about it. Emerson has lived in the country so isn't going to have problems settling in.
“He knows Tuchel and Tuchel knows him. He understands the structure well and fitted into the group really well and is a player that Tuchel values hugely.
“On multiple occasions he answered somewhat unprompted that he was really good for the squad and that he is a top professional. All these things are really valued by Tuchel.
“It’s why he would rather have Emerson in place of another potential wing-back option. From Chelsea’s perspective, it’s a tricky one because it does highlight that they made a mistake by not having a recall clause.
“But if you have that then you can’t offer Lyon the option to buy him. Because why would you agree that if you were them? From what I gather Chelsea are willing to throw Lyon a bit of money here.
“Emerson is a more sure thing than anyone else they can sign in Tuchel’s eyes, that it’s worth spending a little bit of money to bring in a player that you’re not going to have issues with.”
How would you like to see the Blues fix their left-back dilemma? Follow our Carefree Chelsea team members Daniel and Renuka on Twitter to get involved in the discussion and give us your thoughts in the comments section below.
