Aston Villa are closing in on a permanent transfer deal for Flamengo defender Emerson Royal today after raising their bid to around £8.6m.
The Midlands club returned to the negotiating table with a heavily-improved structure after their initial opening offer was knocked back by the Brazilian side earlier this week.
Reports from South America indicate that Flamengo executives are now on the verge of a full agreement for the 27-year-old full-back, who made 101 senior appearances in English football during his spell with Tottenham Hotspur up until two years ago.
Manager Unai Emery is intentionally prioritizing low-cost defensive reinforcements this summer as Villa carefully navigate strict UEFA financial settlements alongside domestic profit and sustainability guidelines.
Royal’s proven Premier League experience and capacity to feature across multiple defensive roles make him an ideal tactical asset to provide competitive cover behind Matty Cash.
With a demanding Champions League group campaign in the season ahead, Emery is eager to inject experienced depth into his backline early in the transfer window.
Villa have already concluded a £4.75m deal for young LASK midfielder Modou Keba Cisse, and securing Royal’s versatility before the squad assembles for pre-season training in July would be ideal.