Arsenal: 15 left-back & right-back summer transfer targets

Emerson Royal – Barcelona & Real Betis

The whole co-owned situation is a peculiar one and not something English audiences are used to, but what it does do is put Barcelona in the driving seat when it comes to Emerson Royal’s future.

For their £2.5m share they will bring him back to Nou Camp, where his price tag can be whatever they fancy, with anything constituting a healthy profit. Figures up to £20m have been mooted and given the financial turmoil they find themselves in, they’ll want something big.

Equally, buying clubs can exploit La Blaugrana’s weakness. They need money so a low-ball offer could suffice.

What Arsenal, or any interested club, would be getting is a Brazilian with superb defensive statistics. All major defensive traits have him in the solid 80+ percentile, with his attacking contributions the slightly less desirable aspect.

Eyeing an equally forward thinking right-back as Tierney on the other side, they may think differently with Emerson who is slightly more conservative in possession even if he does play as the further forward option on the right flank in possession.

On the ball he’s tidy, but perhaps more adventure could be desired with his range of distribution. Nonetheless, he’s heavily linked to Arsenal and his comfort tucking inside will be playing a major role in that.