Chelsea ready to pay £3m to recall defender?

Chelsea are willing to pay as much as £3m to recall Emerson from his season-long loan at Lyon.

The Italian was loaned out to the Ligue 1 club last summer with an option to buy for around £12 million.

He has since established himself as a regular in the left-back/left wing-back spot for the French club.

Les Gones are likely to trigger the option to buy, but the Blues are now desperate to have him back.

Ben Chilwell has been ruled out with a season-ending knee injury. This has left a void in the left wing-back spot.

Marcos Alonso is currently the only specialist option in the first-team squad. The Blues are keen to find a competitor.

Rather than spending big on a new signing, they want to recall Emerson, but Lyon are reluctant to release him this month.

There was no recall clause agreed last summer. The Blues are ready to pay a £3m compensation fee to convince Les Gones.