Aston Villa submit €9 million offer to Flamengo for Emerson Royal | OneFootball

Aston Villa have submitted a €9 million bid to Flamengo for right-back Emerson Royal, according to ESPN Brazil.

Unai Emery wants the Europa League champions to sign competition for Matty Cash ahead of a hectic Champions League campaign

Flamengo will recoup the exact fee they paid when they originally brought Emerson back to his homeland from AC Milan.

Since making his high-profile switch to Rio de Janeiro, the ‘great pro‘ has reinvigorated his career, playing a key role for Flamengo en route to three trophies, including the 2025 Copa Libertadores.

His current contract runs through December 2028, giving the Rubro-Negro a strong negotiating position.

Flamengo are currently weighing tactical and financial considerations before responding to Villa. Finding an immediate domestic replacement of a similar calibre is viewed as a challenge.

While reluctant to damage their defensive depth, the Brazilian giants need to meet specific financial balance benchmarks.

However, the club recently finalised a €10m deal to sell Ryan Roberto to Shakhtar Donetsk, meaning they are under slightly less pressure to secure immediate income.

Bringing Royal back to England is an opportunistic move by Villa to secure a player with vast experience across Europe.

He has clocked up almost 200 appearances during his stints with Real Betis, Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur.

The player is settled and content fighting for major silverware in Brazil, but the appeal of returning to the elite level of European football could significantly influence his long-term ambitions.