Barcelona’s Emerson Royal is the frontrunner to replace Moroccan international wing-back Achraf Hakimi at Inter, Italian media reports.

Today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport report that the meeting of the Brazilian’s agent at Inter headquarters yesterday was a positive sign that a deal could be done for the player.

The 22-year-old is said to be amenable to a move from Barcelona to the San Siro, a fact established by the contact between the player’s entourage and the Nerazzurri.

However, negotiations have not yet begun regarding the potential fee involved in a deal, and current club Barcelona are not likely to offer him at a reduced fee.

The Catalan club would owe €9 million of any sale to Real Betis, the club which Emerson spent the past two and a half seasons on loan at, and are not thought to be willing to sell the player at a loss.

The asking price is thought to be around €20-25 million.