Aston Villa man ‘most viable option’ as Atletico chase right-back

Jason Soutar
Aston Villa right-back Matty Cash celebrates his goal

Atletico Madrid are keen on signing Aston Villa right-back Matty Cash ahead of Tottenham’s Emerson Royal, according to reports.

Earlier this month it was reported that Spurs are ‘willing to listen to offers’ for Brazilian right-back Emerson.


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The 23-year-old has played 33 times for Tottenham across all competitions this term. He has started their last two Premier League games on the bench.

Matt Doherty played ahead of Emerson against Everton on Monday night. The former Wolves star shone as Spurs won 5-0.

As for Cash, Aston Villa have no desire to let the Poland international leave.

He is a mainstay in their team and has started every Premier League match this term under both Dean Smith and Steven Gerrard.

Atletico are interested in signing a new right-back after selling Kieran Trippier to Newcastle United in the January transfer window.

Emerson has been heavily linked with Colchoneros; however, Mundo Deportivo (via Sport Witness) claim that Cash is the ‘most viable option’ for the La Liga side.

Cash is reportedly the player who Atletico ‘like the most’, and the Spanish club have been ‘following him for a while’.

The report acknowledges that the 24-year-old would be an ‘expensive’ transfer.

Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard has suggested that it “doesn’t make any sense to make decisions now” regarding the future of Philippe Coutinho at Aston Villa.

The Villans have an option to sign the Brazillian permanently. He returned to the Premier League in January as he signed for Villa on loan from Barcelona.

Gerrard said: “For me it doesn’t make any sense to make any decisions now.

“When he’s physically in the right place, when he’s comfortable and happy and enjoying his football, we all know we’re dealing with a world-class talent.

“We just need to keep enjoying him, to keep him healthy from now until the end of the season and I’m sure he’ll help us. To watch him and work with him and see him get back to his top form and enjoy his football again is a pleasure.”