Chelsea Transfer News: Roma Won't Rule Out Edin Dzeko, Emerson Palmieri Rumours

Chelsea look to have received new hope in their pursuit of AS Roma duo Edin Dzeko and Emerson Palmieri after the club's sporting director refused to rule out the prospect of his players leaving this month.

Monchi moved to the Stadio Olimpico after 16 years as Sevilla's head of transfers, and Roma's market figurehead said in a statement (h/t James Cambridge of the Daily Express):

“We have found ourselves forced to create some clarity here. For too many days Roma have been described in the papers as a club being dismantled. I even read we are selling players without their knowledge.

“It is a description that is very far away from the reality of the situation. We cannot be blamed for having many strong players in the squad who are of interest to many top clubs.

"If concrete offers arrive, it will be my duty as director of sport to evaluate them, just as my proposals are evaluated when I contact other directors of sport."

Monchi's response to rumours acknowledged there are players in the squad attracting offers before touching on the notion that any tempting bids will be considered.

Simon Johnson of the London Evening Standard reported the Blues are looking to seal a double deal worth £44 million, and ESPN.co.uk's Mark Ogden touted former Manchester City man Dzeko as a fine January recruit:

Monchi went on to say he's making "three times as many calls" as he receives in regards to Roma's transfer planning this month, adding "our objective is always the same, to strengthen the squad."

Those words may suggest there are irons in the fire for the Giallorossi to make some signings they feel could be improvements to the existing squad, and Goal's Nizaar Kinsella suggested Emerson could be a risky investment:

The Brazilian-born full-back has barely featured this season as he approaches a return from the anterior cruciate ligament rupture he suffered in May.

Standard Sport recently posted an overview of the left wing-back, whose agent Fernando Garcia recently described it as the player's dream to work under Antonio Conte, per Johnson's report:

Dzeko looks like the higher-priority recruit at present given Chelsea's recent struggles in front of goal, with four goalless results preceding Saturday's 4-0 rampage over Brighton & Hove Albion.

Kinsella also discussed the prospect of Chelsea misfit Michy Batshuayi moving to make room for Dzeko's arrival, two-and-a-half years after he first left Manchester for Rome:

Emerson's fitness uncertainty and the presence of the in-form Marcos Alonso raises some questions regarding Chelsea's interest in his signature, while Dzeko has arguably hit his peak form in Italy.

Monchi's comments suggest there could be a double deal to be had for the right price, giving the west London suitors some strong hope of adding new faces to their crop this winter.