Napoli are reportedly interested in signing Chelsea outcast Emerson Palmieri.

The 26-year-old was already falling out of favour at Stamford Bridge last season, and now the arrival of Ben Chilwell has made it harder for Emerson to come into Frank Lampard's thinking for a starting place.

The former Roma man was linked with a return to Italy all throughout the summer, but Emerson ultimately stayed put at Stamford Bridge, where he has not played a single minute of Premier League football this term.

However, the left-back's ill-fated stint in the capital could soon come to an end, with Italian outlet Repubblica claiming that Napoli have earmarked Emerson as an ideal signing in their bid to bolster the left-hand side of defence.

Emerson has turned out twice for Lampard's men in both the EFL Cup and Champions League this season, but in his quest for more first-team football, the defender has hinted that he could end his stay at Stamford Bridge in January.

The Italy international, who will see his current deal at Chelsea expire in 2022, recently played the full 90 minutes in Italy's 2-0 win over Poland in the Nations League on Sunday.