The Blues had hoped to sign Alex Sandro last summer but they are now set to sign his compatriot despite the fact that he is Roma's reserve left-back
"When I arrived at Roma," Emerson Palmieri reminisced, "Nobody knew who I was." It could be a similar story when he touches down in London to sign for Chelsea.
Before the season began, the Blues had high hopes of signing Alex Sandro, Juventus' rampaging left-back. Now, midway through the 2017-18 campaign, they are instead poised to bring in another Brazilian in Emerson, a reserve at Roma.
Chelsea fans could, therefore, be forgiven for asking not only who Emerson is, but why their club is set to pay £22 million for a player who has featured just twice for the Giallorossi so far this season.