Hull City have stepped up their pursuit of Toulouse striker Emersonn by submitting an improved bid worth £22.3 million after an earlier approach was rejected. The Yorkshire club, preparing for life in the Premier League following their Championship play-off triumph, view the 21-year-old Brazilian as a priority target to bolster their forward line.
Emersonn arrived at the French club just last summer, completing a transfer from Turkish side Göztepe S.K. Despite operating in a Toulouse attack that misfired on several occasions, the South American made an immediate impression during his debut campaign. He found the net seven times and laid on three assists across all competitions, proving one of the few consistent threats in a struggling side.
His first season in Ligue 1 was not without its challenges, however. The youngster displayed a combative streak that occasionally landed him in trouble with officials, collecting six yellow cards and one red card across 34 appearances. These disciplinary issues resulted in two suspensions, though he was available for the majority of the campaign, missing only four games in total.
Promoted clubs chase goals
Hull are not the only recently promoted Premier League side tracking Emersonn’s situation. Ipswich Town, who also secured a return to the top flight, have registered their interest in the forward as they look to strengthen their squad for the challenges ahead.
The Suffolk club are casting their net wide in the search for attacking reinforcements. Scouts have also been monitoring Lille centre-forward Alexsandro, indicating that the Tractor Boys are weighing up multiple options from the French top division.
Toulouse at a crossroads
Toulouse now face a significant decision regarding a player they have nurtured for just one season. Having already turned down one bid from Hull, the Ligue 1 side must weigh the financial benefits of the improved £22.3 million package against the sporting cost of losing a young striker who contributed directly to ten goals last term.
For Emersonn, a move to England would mark a rapid ascent in his career trajectory. Just twelve months after leaving Turkey for France, he could find himself testing his abilities against Premier League defences. With two promoted clubs now vying for his services, the coming days promise to determine whether the Brazilian makes the switch to English football.