If a player is not quite good enough for Tottenham Hotspur, then is he really the right man for a bonafide European powerhouse with ambitions of silverware.
That is the question put forward by Marco Selvaggi, a so-called ‘super agent’ who has been left a little confused by the speculation coming out of one of Italy’s leading sides.
When Tottenham Hotspur’s £25 million man was being savaged by fans and pundits alike not so long ago – when opposition teams were very obviously giving him time and space to pick out crosses knowing he was essentially giving possession back every time he slung one into the box – it was hard to imagine Emerson Royal catching the eye of AC Milan.
But here we are. And, soon enough, ‘here we go’ to borrow Fabrizio Romano’s famous three-word phrase.
Romano, writing on X, says that Emerson has already agreed a five-year contract at the San Siro. Milan and the player himself are hoping that a deal can be sorted in the next few days for a fee of around £12.5 million.
And this is where the confusion comes in.
Why, Selvaggi wonders, are a Milan side aiming at Serie A glory signing a player who cannot get into the XI for a side who finished fifth in the Premier League next term?
Tottenham Hotspur could sell Emerson Royal to AC Milan
“He is a good player but definitely not Milan-worthy,” Selvaggi tells Pianeta Milan. “There are stronger full-backs around.”
The answer may lie in the success stories of Milan’s 2023/24 campaign.
Olivier Giroud, Christian Pulisic and particularly Ruben Loftus-Cheek were three of the club’s most impressive performers last term.
Perhaps Milan feel that the Premier League is a market of untapped potential, Emerson Royal another talented player who just needs a fresh start to remind his many critics why Tottenham were so keen to stump up the £25 million fee required to sign the one-time Barcelona man in the first place.
“Yes, I know Milan asked Spurs about me,” Emerson told Andre Hernan back in June. I’m proud of that, Milan is an important club.
“Let’s see what happens with Milan. I’m just happy to know that they are showing interest in me.”
Rossoneri legend Filippo Galli, meanwhile, is convinced that Emerson can follow the same path as former Chelsea benchwarmers Pulisic and Loftus-Cheek, while proving he is the ‘right man’ for Milan.
HITC understands that Tottenham have identified Fiorentina’s Michael Kayode as a potential replacement. Young, technically gifted and impressively versatile, the Destiny Udogie-like Kayode is the prototype of a typical Ange Postecoglou full-back.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, have held initial talks.
Spurs like Fiorentina starlet Michael Kayode
Though Kayode’s agent insists that there is no agreement close as things stand to take the Italy Under 21 international away from Fiorentina.
“Of course, he still has some fine tuning to do on his game. Sometimes, he is still a bit too messy. But this is a boy born in 2004 who comes from the Primavera (academy), won the Under-19 European championship (with Italy) and then went to the first team,” Andrea Ritorni tells Tuttomercatoweb.
“I think this year he has to take a further step to get to the top, obviously improving.
“The market is so particular and ends on August 31st. If we consider that they ask for him in the Premier and Bundesliga, this means that Fiorentina (have done well with Kayode).
“They ask me: ‘You have so many requests’. But one thing is the request, which is nice and everyone likes. Another is to sit down and negotiate, something that has not happened so far. Then, Kayode has a contract until the age of 24.
“Mostly there is talk of the Premier League. Today, Kayode is a Fiorentina player, and they are holding on to him.
“If an offer arrives Fiorentina will decide. As of today, there is nothing concrete. I think and hope that he will stay to mature for another year. If he has another great year here, then his value will also increase, because I am convinced that he will have an amazing season.”
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