Chelsea will hold more talks with Roma over a potential double deal for Emerson Palmieri and Edin Dzeko next week.

Left-back Palmieri is hoping to complete a move to Stamford Bridge to compete with Marcos Alonso, despite the fact Chelsea would ideally like to take the Brazilian on loan.

Roma want £22 million for Palmieri, but there is optimism on all sides that a deal for either a loan or permanent transfer can be agreed.

Chelsea’s interest in Dzeko is less advanced and has come about as the club attempt to find a target man to help out Alvaro Morata, who is suspended for Saturday’s trip to Brighton.

Morata’s suspension means Michy Batshuayi, who could move in the opposite direction to Dzeko, will start against Brighton. And Roma face Inter Milan on Sunday, which means discussions have been put on hold during the weekend.

The Premier League champions had been hopeful of signing Andy Carroll, but the West Ham United centre-forward's ankle injury has forced them to look elsewhere. There is an outside chance of Chelsea reigniting their interest if the 29-year-old can recover by the end of the month.