Aston Villa were getting closer to signing Emerson Royal, but things have taken another twist. Fresh claims from Brazil suggest Flamengo have decided against selling the defender – despite the Premier League club improving their offer.
The transfer saga has moved quickly over the past few days. Aston Villa were first reported to have bid €9m (£7.7m), before increasing that to €10m (£8.6m), with multiple reports indicating the negotiations were moving towards a positive conclusion.
The latest update paints a different picture though.
According to journalist Venê Casagrande, Flamengo have decided not to sell Emerson Royal at this stage, even after Aston Villa returned with an improved proposal worth around €10m (£8.6m).
His report does not suggest the negotiations have collapsed permanently. Instead, the current stance is that the Brazilian club are unwilling to sanction a deal under the present circumstances.
Squad concerns outweigh financial considerations
The reason is not financial. Casagrande explains Flamengo’s hierarchy believe selling Emerson Royal now would leave Leonardo Jardim without an immediate deputy for Guillermo Varela.
While Emerson Royal has spent much of the season as Varela’s understudy, the report stresses the Uruguay international cannot cope with an extended run of matches without regular rotation. As a result, the former Tottenham defender still features frequently despite not being first choice.
That has become a key factor in Flamengo’s thinking. The club are already dealing with issues at left-back and, according to Venê Casagrande, have no intention of creating a similar problem on the opposite side of defence.
Door not completely closed
There is still room for the situation to change, and there’s every chance Flamengo are playing transfer games. Speaking after checking on the negotiations again, Venê Casagrande said there had been no progress and, for now, no further progress is expected.
He described the talks as having cooled, while stopping short of saying they were over. Instead, he suggested Aston Villa could yet revive the move if they decide to return with another improved proposal.
For the moment, though, Flamengo’s priority is preserving their squad depth rather than accepting a sizeable offer.
That means Aston Villa’s improved €10m (£8.6m) bid has not been enough to convince the Brazilian club to part with Emerson Royal – at least not yet.
🇪🇨 Pedro Vite | Aston Villa will submit formal offer for signing ➡️ ‘Good chance’ versatile player now moves https://t.co/6rcOp8cZuw #avfc
— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) July 1, 2026
