Report: Champions League side ready to sell for £22m, Arsenal and West Ham linked

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Goal have claimed that Barcelona are ready to do business and sell right-back Emerson Royal for a fee of £22million this summer, with 20% owed to Real Betis – amid reports that Arsenal and West Ham United are interested.

Emerson, 22, has starred for Betis since joining the Spanish side on a two-year loan deal from Barcelona. The two sides agreed that Emerson would spend his first two years at Betis, and then the next three at Barcelona.

Both clubs paid the same amount to sign him from Atletico Mineiro in 2019, and now, that two-year spell at Betis is coming to an end. Barcelona are willing to sell him for £22million, but Betis would be entitled to 20%.

CalcioMercato claim West Ham want Emerson, as do Bayer Leverkusen and little surprise – he has had a hand in 15 goals during the 69 Betis appearances he has clocked up. Meanwhile, Mundo Deportivo say Arsenal are keen.

TBR’s view – Emerson would be a bargain at £22m

But which club needs him most? West Ham boast Vladimir Coufal, Ryan Fredericks and Ben Johnson as options at right-back – and Coufal has been superb for the Hammers since joining the club from Slavia Prague.

Signed for a small fee, he is certainly showing the quality of a defender in the same price bracket as Emerson. Signing Emerson, then, would be somewhat silly from West Ham. But at Arsenal, they need a right-back.

Hector Bellerin is being linked with Barcelona, while Cedric Soares has been indifferent at right-back – suffering injuries since he joined from Southampton. A new right-sided defender would be ideal, and Emerson is good value.