Tottenham lead group of five Premier League clubs eyeing Real Betis midfielder Achille Emana

Achille Emana, Betis (PA)

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EXCLUSIVE
By Victor Vago

Real Betis attacking midfielder Achille Emana is attracting the interest of several Premier League clubs.

The Cameroon international, 28, famed for scoring spectacular goals, has been watched by Tottenham, Everton, Birmingham, Wigan and West Ham.

He has scored 32 goals in 85 appearances for Betis since joining from French club Toulouse in 2008, and the cash-strapped Spanish second division club may now need to offload him in order to raise funds.

The player’s UK agent Bill McMurdo told Goal.com: “There are a lot of Premier League clubs interested in him. I know that for sure. Everton, Spurs, Birmingham, West Ham and Wigan have all watched him in the last few weeks.

“Nobody’s made an offer. In the case of Birmingham, and especially West Ham and Wigan, they don’t know if they’ll stay up so they won’t make offers until their Premier League status is assured.

“If he wants to go, and I know that he does, I think he will be with an English club next season. There’s a strong possibility of that.

“There are also three French clubs who have made it known to me that they’re interested in the player, but I’m not prepared to name them right now. But I definitely think there will be progress in the next couple of weeks.

“I know that Betis are asking for about €7 million or €8m £6m-£7m for him, but I think he could possibly go for €5m or €6m £4.5m-£5.5m. I think Betis may have to raise funds in order to buy players and balance the books.

“He’s very keen to leave, be it to come to England or to go to France. There are no concrete offers yet, but he could well come to England. I know that at least one of those clubs is really keen on him.”

Emana was on the books of Valencia as a youth player before joining Toulouse, where he scored 28 goals in 231 appearances. It is at Betis that his career has really taken off with a string of eye-catching displays.

He has played 35 times for Cameroon, including two appearances at the 2010 World Cup.