Emerson Royal could leave Tottenham with Ange Postecoglou tipped to seek defensive signings
Paul Robinson expects Ange Postecoglou to target new full-back signings at Tottenham with Emerson Royal possibly leaving the club as a result.
The former Spurs and England keeper has been very impressed by the improvement the Brazilian has shown under his new manager, branding him “outstanding” this season after “really poor” periods last term.
But after a “huge” offer was rejected from Al-Nassr [The Sun, 21 January] at a point when Postecoglou was in no position to weaken his options Robinson has tipped the club to possibly “cash in” if similar happens in the summer, to help fund the Australian to make additions to his back line.
He exclusively told Tottenham News: “Yeah I think they will, those are the areas that they’ll look at. Emerson Royal has been outstanding at times this season when he’s been deployed as a centre-half, and sometimes as a holding midfielder later on in games, and at right-back.
“There were times last season where he was susceptible for a lot of goals. He was targeted, he was really poor.
“But this year under Ange, with the way that they play, he’s come onto a level where he’s been really good this season.
“Can he do it constantly over a longer period of time? Will [Postecoglou] look for a better option?
“[Pedro] Porro and [Destiny] Udogie are his first-choice full-backs and whether Emerson Royal leaves the club, we know that there was a bid from Saudi in the January window so if that comes back again and the club decides to cash in they could look to strengthen in those areas.
“Ange will be given free hand to manipulate and mould his squad how he sees fit, and he’s earned the right to do that.”
Tottenham could cash in on Emerson Royal after Al-Nassr bid rejected in January transfer window
Postecoglou has had to deal with extensive selection problems in his debut season since arriving from Celtic, so Royal and the likes of Ben Davies have been relied upon in a way they might not otherwise have been this term.
The manager has already installed a number of new regular starters in his side, with Porro, Udogie, Guglielmo Vicario and others helping transform the way Tottenham play.
Royal has stepped up when called upon and proven to Postecoglou he can rely on him if needed, but if the manager has his eye on more of his own men he could still choose to make the trade off.
In other Tottenham news, there is “absolutely” concern that Liverpool could swipe a key man from Spurs.
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