Manchester City right-back emerges as ‘leading contender’ to replace Tottenham’s Emerson Royal

Tottenham have identified one of Manchester City’s right-back talents as a potential successor to Emerson Royal this summer, should an exit be found for the player.

That concerns the profile of Issa Kabore, who returned briefly to the City Football Academy earlier this summer for the start of his pre-season preparations, but was ultimately excluded from the initial 27-man travelling squad for the tour of the United States.

Before the summer transfer window got underway, Kabore was widely expected to be inundated with transfer interest, allowing for Manchester City to field a market and source the best possible deal, eyeing a price tag of £15 million.

Among the clubs to have been linked with an interest prior to the latest developments from within the Premier League are the likes of Turkish Super Lig side Galatasaray, as well as Serie A giants AS Roma – however neither suitor has progressed from admiration at this stage.

As such, that has opened an opportunity for other clubs to storm ahead in talks with the Premier League champions, and the latest report has tied the former ESTAC Troyes and Marseille loanee to interest from within the English top-flight.

According to the information of journalist Mike McGrath on X, Manchester City’s Issa Kaboré has emerged as a ‘leading contender’ for Tottenham Hotspur this summer, should they sell Emerson Royal in the coming weeks.

It is explained that the 23-year-old Etihad Stadium talent has now been lined up by the North London club after impressing during his loan spell with Luton Town last season, and the Burkina Faso international has caught eye of clubs looking at his position.

As for the future of Emerson Royal at Tottenham, and whether the club could turn to Manchester City’s Kabore in the immediate future, the report explains that the Brazilian defender is pushing for a move to AC Milan.

Issa Kaborè first signed for City in July 2020, having been identified as part of the City Football Group’s informal ’emerging talents’ group, of which players are monitored consistently with a possibility of being integrated into Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad later down the line.

Upon signing a contract with the Premier League champions, Kabore remained on loan at his former club Mechelen for the forthcoming 2020/21 season, before joining City Group-owned ESTAC Troyes for the 2021/22 campaign.

That stay in French football then sparked an extended experience in the country, joining Marseille on loan in August 2022 for the following season, before taking on his first taste of English football at Luton last campaign.