Tottenham Hotspur’s hopes of upgrading Emerson Royal may have taken a hit with FootMercato reporting that the Premier League outfit could face competition from Real Madrid and Bayern Munich for Lyon’s Malo Gusto.
It’s not exactly uncommon for a player to be jeered off the pitch by cantankerous opposition fans.
The sight of a player being hauled off, to the very audible jubilation of his own supporters however… well that’s not something you see every day, even in this most harsh and unforgiving of sports.
The unmistakable relief that greeted the sight of Emerson trudging off the field just 57 minutes into Spurs’ 4-3 victory over Leeds United felt like the release of months of frustration; a boiling over point, following yet another display chock-full of misplaced passes and under hit crosses from one of the most exasperating footballers anywhere in the Premier League.
Tottenham Hotspur need to replace Emerson Royal
When you compare Emerson to the standard of wing back Antonio Conte has had in his previous jobs – Achraf Hakimi at Inter Milan for instance – then you could understand why the Italian would be looking to bring in a replacement. Even if Conte has been highly supportive of Emerson in public.
According to 90Min, Spurs are one of many clubs to have scouted watch Lyon’s Malo Gusto this season. The 19-year-old Frenchman is perhaps the closest thing we have to a second coming of Trent Alexander-Arnold in the European game right now.
Despite his tender age, Gusto is already blessed with devilish delivery from out wide. In his first 48 games, he set up more goals (six) than Alexander-Arnold did during the same timeframe at Liverpool. Gusto possesses the technique and the composure Emerson so clearly lacks. Not to mention the kind of end-product you would not normally expect from one so young.
Gusto clearly as the appetite and the desire to maintain his current trajectory too. This is certainly an old head on young shoulders.
The new Trent Alexander-Arnold?
“This is only the beginning,” the teenager says. “I have to keep working. I know I can do more. You have to be serious about everything you do, whether it’s on or off the pitch. It’s very important if you want to be a great player.”
Unsurprisingly, such raw, juicy talent is not going unnoticed. In addition to Tottenham, reigning European Champions Real Madrid are ‘very’ keen, FootMercato say. Bayern Munich too.
Gusto’s Lyon contract expires in 2024. But rising interest from the biggest and richest clubs on the continent is likely to see his price-tag sky-rocket. Potentially to heights Tottenham can no longer reach.
Finding an upgrade on Emerson Royal is the easy part. Actually signing him, however, well that could be a bit more tricky.
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