Alasdair Gold has claimed there is still a possibility that Tottenham could sell Emerson Royal if a suitable offer comes in for the right-back before the transfer window closes.
Tottenham strengthened at right wing-back this summer with the addition of Djed Spence from Middlesbrough, with the 21-year-old coming to the club on the back of a breakout season on loan at Nottingham Forest.
However, the 21-year-old started on the bench on Saturday, as did Matt Doherty, who was in fantastic form before picking up a knee injury last season.
It was Emerson who was given the nod to start by Antonio Conte instead and the Brazilian repaid the Italian’s faith by putting in a fine display.
The 23-year-old played a major part in Tottenham’s third goal, with his cross/shot being turned into the back of the net by Mohammed Salisu, before also setting up Dejan Kulusevski’s strike.
However, Gold feels Doherty is still Conte’s first choice at right wing-back and that Emerson could leave before the transfer window closes.
The journalist said on his YouTube channel: “It’s interesting. There’s a part of me that still feels that if Spurs were to get a good bid for him, they might accept it. Whether he would want to move or not, I don’t know.
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“If you’re in a world where it meant nothing how big your squad was, I still think as a squad player, he’s a very good option.
“Even talking when I asked about the right-backs on Thursday in the press conference before the match – may be reading too much into it. But Conte spoke about Doherty, he spoke about Spence and then he spoke about Emerson at the end.”
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I believe the only reason Emerson got the nod to start over Doherty against Southampton is due to the former Wolves man not being 100 per cent. Spence will obviously need a couple of months to get accustomed to Conte’s demands.
The Brazilian is certainly the most likely out of our three right-backs to leave this summer but perhaps his performance on Saturday could have convinced Conte to keep him around as a squad player.
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