Tottenham are set to complete a deal for 22-year-old Barcelona full-back Emerson Royal in a deal worth 30million euros (£25.8million), plus add ons.
The club fought off interest from their closest rivals Arsenal for his signature and will look to immediately integrate Emerson into the side.
Spurs have started the season well with Japhet Tanganga in the right-back position, winning all three games in the Premier League – matches they have kept clean sheets in.
And with the club still looking to offload Serge Aurier before 11pm, and with Matt Doherty seemingly out of favour at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Emerson is set to be an instant figure in Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, both in the domestic league and in Europe.
Spurs did hold talks with Bologna over the signing of Arsenal-bound Takehiro Tomiyasu earlier in the window, but a more natural right-back in Emerson ended up being the better option.
The 22-year-old defender spent two and a half years on loan at Real Betis, where he made a name for himself because of his threat going forward, earning him high praise from supporters and pundits alike.
Some even compared him with Brazil and Barcelona legend, Dani Alves, who has been known for providing a number of assists, and even chipping in with the occasional goal over the years.
When asked about these comparisons back in 2020, Emerson told UOL Esporte that he admires Alves: "He is one of the best full-backs in the world and has always been an example for me.”
However, he’s determined to focus on his own game, and has already told Spurs fans what he will bring to their side.
"I confess that I don't think so much about the numbers individually, but of course this data is cool because it shows that I'm on the right path," he said.
"I know my first role is to help the team on the defensive side, but I've always been a full-back with presence offensive.
"I'm that 'starving' player and I like to participate a lot in the game.”
