Paris Saint-Germain have made the first move for reported Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur target Emerson Royal, with Mundo Deportivo reporting a £14 million bid has been lodged.
When Jose Mourinho packed his bags and walked out of Spurs’ training ground for the final time last week, did Tottenham’s hopes of signing one of Europe’s best young right-backs go with him?
Earlier this month, MD reported Mourinho was the driving force behind the club’s interest in Barcelona’s Real Betis loanee Emerson Royal.
Mourinho had instructed his Tottenham bosses to bring the swashbuckling Brazil international to north London having failed to sign Emerson in summer 2020.
With Ryan Mason now making himself comfortable in the Spurs dugout instead, it remains to be seen whether the ‘Emerson to Tottenham’ ship has sailed.
Arsenal will certainly hope it has.
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners have identified the Sao Paulo-born 22-year-old as a replacement for the long-serving Hector Bellerin at the Emirates, according to MD in March.
West Ham are interested too (CM) and could still offer Emerson something Tottenham and Arsenal can’t – Champions League football.
For now, however, there’s only one offer on Barcelona’s desk. And it hasn’t come from any of the Premier League trio.
PSG – Mauricio Pochettino’s PSG – have made a £14 million bid. Although it seems unlikely, at this early stage, that Barca would sell for such an amount having previously demanded a fee closer to £23 million.
Interestingly, Emerson’s registration rights are co-owned by Barcelona and a Real Betis side he has played for on loan for the past two seasons.
Ronald Koeman’s side are now weighing up whether to hand the powerful full-back a chance to prove his worth at Camp Nou.
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