Tottenham Hotspur would be willing to offer Emerson Royal in a deal to bring Denzel Dumfries to the Premier League in the January transfer window.
What’s the talk?
That’s according to Marco Barzaghi, with the Italian journalist revealing in a recent video posted on his YouTube channel (via Sport Witness) that Antonio Conte could offer Inter Milan the 23-year-old Brazilian in a player-plus-cash bid for the 26-year-old Netherlands right-back – whom the Serie A side are said to value at a figure in the region of €60m (£53m).
Regarding the interest in the defender, Barzaghi said: “Dumfries had a star turn at the World Cup, with goals and assists. Given the prices that are circulating, €60m could fit, but even €50m could be good. A bidding war cannot be ruled out with Chelsea, Manchester United and Bayern Munich. Tottenham is also on the player and could offer Emerson Royal.”
Ditch Emerson, sign Dumfries
Considering the quite contrasting campaigns Dumfries and Emerson have enjoyed during their respective spells at Inter and Tottenham, should Conte manage to knock the former’s £53m asking price down by including the Brazilian in the deal, it would undoubtedly represent something of a masterstroke by the 53-year-old manager.
Indeed, over Dumfries’ 33 Serie A appearances last time out, the £44.5m-rated talent was in fantastic attacking form, scoring five goals, providing four assists and creating six big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.2 shots, making 0.8 key passes and completing 0.4 crosses per game.
The £53k-per-week right-back has been in similarly fine form going forwards over his 15 fixtures this season, having already hit the back of the net once, registered two assists and created eight big chances for the Nerazzurri, as well as taking an average of 1.3 shots, making 1.1 key passes and completing 0.5 crosses per match.
In contrast, over Emerson’s 31 Premier League appearances in 2021/22, the £31m-rated defender was rather less impressive in an attacking capacity, scoring one goal, providing one assist and creating one big chance, in addition to taking an average of 0.5 shots, making 0.9 key passes and completing 0.6 crosses per fixture.
Things have not improved for the £40k-per-week full-back over his 13 top-flight outings this season, scoring no goals, registering one assist and creating no big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 0.7 shots, making 0.4 key passes and completing 0.3 crosses per game.
As such, with Conte himself admitting that he prefers his wing-backs to be more attack-minded than defensively focused, it is clear to see that the “deadly” – in the words of journalist Marco Messina – Dumfries would be a considerable upgrade on Emerson – who Richarlison dubbed a “beast” – on the right-hand side of the Italian’s backline at Spurs.
Source: Football FanCast
