Tottenham expert suggests what’s really happening with Emerson Royal amid swap deal news
Alan Hutton has claimed under-fire Tottenham star Emerson Royal simply doesn’t “suit” the Premier League.
The former Spurs and Scotland defender, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the 23-year-old is “regularly found out” due to his tendency to get caught out of position.
Royal has started almost three-quarters of Tottenham’s 14 Premier League games this season and has often come under intense criticism from his own fans.
There has been a clamour from Lilywhites fans to start summer signing Djed Spence in the Brazillian’s stead.
According to Italian outlet Calciomercato (8 November), Antonio Conte’s side are exploring the possibility of using Royal in a deal to sign Inter Milan defender Denzel Dumfries.
Hutton suggested the defender may be better off returning to Europe after a “punishing” Premier League spell.
He told Football Insider: “When you come from the Spanish league, you’re used to having more time on the ball.
“There’s more emphasis on the technical side, and you can get your head up and get forward.
“In the Premier League, you get found out very quickly against some of the best players and best coaches in the world.
“If you get caught out of position, as he does, you get punished.
“I don’t think this league suits him. He regularly gets found out.
“Conte, for whatever reason, sticks by him – only he will know why that is.”
Tottenham sit fourth in the Premier League ahead of the resumption of action on Boxing Day.
Conte’s side face fellow London side Brentford in their first game after the World Cup.
In other news, expert tells Tottenham to pull off “huge” Wilfried Zaha transfer after talks reveal.