Tottenham Hotspur have been one of the most active clubs in the transfer window this summer, and they’ve now reached a decision on a departure.
Spurs have brought in five new signings so far — Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Martin Dubravka, Jan Paul van Hecke, and Mateus Fernandes — and agreed a £100m deal with Newcastle for Sandro Tonali. On the outgoing side, a £50m sale of young defender Luka Vuskovic to Brighton has helped fund the spending. Now, with Roberto De Zerbi overhauling the squad ahead of the new season, another first-team regular looks set to leave.
Spurs make call on Romero
Captain Cristian Romero has been heavily linked with a north London exit this summer amid frustration over the club’s ambition following back-to-back 17th-place finishes. Tottenham have already moved to strengthen the position, adding two new centre-backs alongside Micky Van de Ven, Kevin Danso, and Romero — yet it’s now understood De Zerbi and the club’s hierarchy are willing to sanction Romero’s departure, even though he penned a new deal only last summer.
Romero, regularly described as world-class, had reportedly already made up his mind to leave this summer, though there was little indication of it during his time away with Argentina at the World Cup. Having bolstered their central defensive options, Tottenham now view this as the right time to cash in. With three years still left on his contract and his form remaining strong, the club is open to selling.
A number of major European clubs, Atlético Madrid among them, are said to be keeping tabs on the 28-year-old, and Spurs won’t stand in his way should an acceptable offer come in.
Why now makes sense for a sale
At his peak, Romero is one of the best defenders in the Premier League, but last season also exposed his flaws — discipline chief among them. With De Zerbi looking to build his own system around players fully committed to the project, anyone seen as a potential distraction is likely to be moved on, and Romero falls into that category.
His performances at the World Cup could well fuel further interest, and with Tottenham ready to negotiate, a deal may pick up pace quickly once the tournament wraps up.
