Aston Villa have opened talks to sign Tottenham Hotspur flop Emerson Royal in a surprise summer transfer, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Aston Villa have been quiet in the summer transfer window so far despite qualifying for the Champions League, but now it appears as though they are starting to make moves in the market in terms of incomings to help Unai Emery next season.
The major rumours out of Villa Park so far this summer have been regarding outgoings, with Emiliano Martinez being heavily linked with a move to Serie A to join Juventus.
The other main story surrounding Villa has been England star Morgan Rogers, who has been a target for big Premier League clubs like Arsenal and Manchester United.
The player himself is said to be keen on a switch to join the Gunners who, of course, have just won the Premier League title, with Romano claiming that the north Londoners are in advanced talks on the player's side.
Villa may be waiting until after the June 30 PSR deadline before making any major moves, but Royal is one player seemingly high on their list.
Romano: Aston Villa in Talks to Sign Emerson Royal
According to Romano, posting on X on Tuesday evening, Aston Villa are in ongoing talks with Brazilian side Flamengo over a deal to bring Emerson Royal back to the Premier League.
Unai Emery is said to see the 27-year-old star as the perfect back-up and competition for Matty Cash in the right-back position, as the club look to mount a strong push in both the Premier League and Champions League next term.
Emerson Royal may have made more than 100 appearances in three seasons for Tottenham, but he was never a player who convinced people of his abilities, especially defensively given his status as a full-back.
He joined AC Milan in 2024, but lasted just one season before making the move back to his homeland with Flamengo.
Aston Villa Line Up Elite Rogers Replacement
Rogers would clearly be a huge loss for Aston Villa, but the latest reports on Tuesday are that they could target West Ham United captain Jarrod Bowen to replace the Englishman at Villa Park.
Signing the England international would be genius too, given how much he has stood out in a disappointing Hammers side in recent seasons.
Bowen is a leader, shown by his skipper status, but he also delivers when his team needs him the most.
Nine goals and 11 assists in 38 Premier League matches last term is testament to that, although he was unable to help keep the Irons in the top flight.
Getting him out of the London Stadium won't be easy though, with West Ham seemingly looking to balance the books with the sales of Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville.