AC Milan are reportedly keen on securing the services of Emerson, who is valued at €20 million, from Barcelona next summer.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Todo Fichajes, Emerson Royal’s bizarre Spanish sojourn could be set to come to an end when the curtains fall on the 2020/21 season. The Brazilian, on loan at Real Betis from Barcelona, is the subject of interest from AC Milan, who are set to prioritise his signing next summer.
Emerson joined Barcelona from Atletico Mineiro in the January transfer window of 2019 in what was a convoluted deal that saw the Catalan giants and Real Betis pay half of his transfer fee. The Brazilian full-back was immediately sent out on loan to Los Verdiblancos and has exclusively played for them since his arrival in Spain.
The bizarre terms of the deal mean that Barcelona and Betis co-own Emerson, with the Blaugrana likely to have to pay their fellow La Liga outfit €6 million to sign him permanently next summer. Emerson, though, is not expected to represent Barcelona, following the arrival of Sergino Dest, who is seen as the long-term right-back solution. Instead, he could be set for a move to AC Milan.
AC Milan currently have four right-backs in their roster, with Pierre Kalulu and Diogo Dalot joining the Italian giants this past summer. With Davide Calabria and Andrea Conti already at San Siro, Stefano Pioli has plenty of options at his disposal for the right side of the defence. However, Dalot’s loan deal does not have an option to buy for Milan.
Reliable Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Manchester United believe Dalot, who was also linked with Barcelona this past summer, has a lot of potential and intend to keep him once his loan deal with AC Milan expires. Meanwhile, Kalulu is yet to feature for the Serie A outfit.
The 20-year-old could, thus, be sent out on loan in order to receive game time. Finally, with Conti being a squad option at best, Milan’s interest in another right-back is oddly understandable. They have, therefore, set their sights on Emerson, who might not have much of a future at Barcelona and is valued at €20 million for a summer exit.
While AC Milan do want to sign Dalot permanently, they are aware that the Portuguese youngster’s performances could drive his price up. Emerson’s €20 million valuation would make their right-back operation an economic one and with the Brazilian being quite consistent for Real Betis, Milan would have a long-term solution at their disposal in the Barcelona man. An intriguing summer awaits.
