Atletico Madrid have reportedly opened direct negotiations with Tottenham over a potential summer deal for Cristian Romero, according to Fabrizio Romano, who says the Spanish giants are working to fend off rival suitors from across the continent for the Argentine defender.
The question now is whether Liverpool should be paying closer attention to that situation. With the Reds facing Newcastle on 23 August and their defensive options stretched thin, there’s growing unease on Merseyside. Joe Gomez remains out injured, Jeremy Jacquet’s fitness is uncertain, and Giovanni Leoni has yet to convince as a reliable option.
That raises the obvious question of reinforcements at centre-back before the window shuts. Reports from The Times suggest Romero could be available for around £40m, with his value dropping considerably given his contract situation, as his current deal expires in 2027. A deal wouldn’t just make sporting sense either; his Argentina teammate Alexis Mac Allister has previously spoken glowingly about him, describing him as someone whose composure on the ball and command of the game inspire real confidence, and rating him as the standout centre-back on the planet in recent years.
Much of Liverpool’s business, though, appears tied to how the Bradley Barcola situation unfolds. The club’s reluctance to move for Djed Spence suggests they’re holding off on other business until the Barcola negotiations with PSG are resolved. There’s reportedly a £45m gap between Liverpool’s valuation of Barcola (roughly £100m) and PSG’s demands (around £145m), a gap that alone could fund a move for either Romero or a right-back option from Spurs.
Barcola remains a priority given the attacking quality he’d add out wide, especially with Mo Salah’s exit already leaving a gap to fill. Still, that leaves Liverpool’s recruitment team under real pressure to complete multiple significant deals in a short space of time, with the season opener approaching and question marks still hanging over both full-back and centre-back areas of the squad.
