Arsenal have reportedly entered the race to sign Brazilian defender Emerson Royal, who is part-owned by Real Betis and Barcelona.
According to a report from Spanish publication Fichajes, Premier League bigwigs Arsenal have registered an interest in securing the services of right-back Emerson Royal, who is staring at an uncertain future in La Liga.
Emerson, 22, left Brazilian club Atletico Mineiro in the January transfer window of 2019 to sign for Real Betis as part of a complex deal that also involved Barcelona. Co-owned by both clubs, Emerson has exclusively played for Real Betis since landing in Europe and will only be able to move to Barcelona in the next summer, when his deal with the Verdiblancos runs out.
Barcelona can outright buy him for a small transfer fee and offload him or sell him as it is now and share the profits with Real Betis as per reports. And his uncertain situation has now attracted the interest of Arsenal, who could be in need of a new right-back heading into the next season.
As things stand, Arsenal have two senior right-backs in Hector Bellerin and Cedric Soares, neither of whom have been able to nail down the starting berth for themselves under Mikel Arteta. Calum Chambers has also been used in the right-back slot in recent games and to good effect. However, a new right-sided full-back will need to be brought in as there are question marks over the future of Bellerin.
Indeed, there have been claims that the Spaniard could be allowed to leave at the end of the season amid interest from the likes of Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, with Arsenal believed to have slapped a €25 million price tag on his head. Should he end up leaving, Emerson can be a viable candidate to replace him at the Emirates Stadium.
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The Brazilian, over the last couple of years, has established himself as one of the top right-backs in La Liga with his good attacking abilities and sound defensive nous. In 31 games this season, the 22-year-old has been able to contribute with two goals and four assists for Manuel Pellegrini’s side, showing that he can be an asset to any team he joins.
Arsenal, though, will likely have to face competition from PSG, although the Gunners do have alternative targets lined up in the form of Brighton & Hove Albion’s Tariq Lamptey. It now remains to be seen if Emerson does make his way to the Emirates Stadium next term of whether Arsenal decide to go down a different route.
