Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal and Unai Emery’s Villarreal will reportedly miss out on Emerson Royal.
Cadena Ser has reported this afternoon that Emerson will join up with Barcelona after his loan spell at Real Betis ends.
This will be a blow to both Arsenal and Villarreal.
Mundo Deportivo reported in April that Arsenal scouts are ‘closely monitoring’ the 22-year-old with a view to a possible move in the summer of 2021.
Earlier this month, Cadena SER reported that Villarreal, now managed by former Arsenal boss Unai Emery, want to sign the right-back, as covered by HITC Sport at the time.
Goal.com reported in March that Barcelona are open to selling the right-back and are looking for at least €25 million (£21.51 million) as transfer fee.
However, it seems that Barcelona have a made a U-turn on Emerson, which will lead to bitter disappointment for Arsenal and Villarreal.
Hector Bellerin will reportedly leave Arsenal this summer, and although manager Arteta has Cedric Soares, the Gunners will need another right-back.
Emerson was signed jointly by Barcelona and fellow La Liga club Betis in January 2019, and as part of the deal he has been at the Andulcian side on loan.
However, Barcelona reportedly plan to pay Betis €9 million (£7.74 million) and then buy the Brazil international outright.
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