Tottenham hold talks with AC Milan over defender transfer, with agreement close: report

Ange Postecoglou gestures to the Tottenham fans after defeat at Liverpool in May 2024.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Tottenham have held talks with AC Milan over the transfer of a defender this summer, with an agreement understood to be close.

Spurs are planning another big summer of recruitment ahead of Ange Postecoglou's second season in charge of the north London club, but the Australian has admitted that the Lilywhites will also need to shift a number of players before the 2024/25 campaign gets under way.

Postecoglou's side enjoyed a spectacular start to last season, but lost their way in the second half of the campaign and faded, ultimately finishing fifth.

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During the team's mid-season slump and amid an injury crisis, it became apparent that many members of Postecoglou's squad were struggling to adapt to his ideas.

And one player who seems set to move on this summer is Emerson Royal, who is behind Pedro Porro at right-back and does not play a big part in Postecoglou's plans at Tottenham.

According to Fabrizio Romano in his newsletter, Spurs have been in talks with AC Milan over a transfer for the Brazilian defender, with both clubs keen to push through a deal.

Emerson Royal in action for Tottenham against Burnley in January 2024.

Emerson Royal is no longer first choice right-back for Tottenham. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Spurs are understood to be holding out for a fee of around €20 million for the 25-year-old, who was left out of Brazil's squad for the Copa America this summer.

An agreement is thought to be reached soon, with Tottenham expected to receive a figure close to their €20m valuation.

Emerson Royal would compete with Milan captain Davide Calabria for a starting spot at San Siro.

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Ben Hayward
Weekend editor

Ben Hayward is a European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.