Atletico Madrid have renewed their interest in Tottenham Hotspur’s Cristian Romero, who is also attracting interest from Arsenal.
Spurs are unaware of Arsenal’s interest and would be unwilling to consider selling their captain to their north London rivals, leaving Atleti and Inter Milan as likelier candidates for Romero’s signature this summer.
Inter have already verbally agreed in principle a fee with Spurs for the Argentina international of around €40million (£34.2million) but are yet to agree personal terms with the player.
Atleti, who are coached by Romero’s compatriot Diego Simeone, held a firm interest in Romero last summer, and have now made the 28-year-old an active target again.
Arsenal also admire Romero but the chances of a contentious move across north London appear slim, with Spurs considering any deal with their fierce rivals to be a non-starter.
Sol Campbell, also the Spurs captain, joined Arsenal on a free transfer in summer 2001 after running down his Tottenham contract in a hugely controversial transfer, which still stirs emotions at both ends of the Seven Sisters Road.
William Gallas is the most recent player to move directly between the clubs, joining Spurs as a free agent in 2010 after his contract with Arsenal expired.
Romero is likely to leave Tottenham this summer after four years at the club.
Following Atleti’s initial interest, Spurs announced the centre-half had signed a new contract to 2029 in August last year, days after he was officially named club captain following the departure of Son Heung-min.
However, he attracted criticism during a dismal season in which Spurs only avoided Premier League relegation on the final day, not least for two red cards on the pitch and another pointed swipe at the club’s board in January.
Spurs have already signed two central defenders this summer, recruiting Marco Senesi on a free transfer after his Bournemouth contract expired and signing Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton & Hove Albion in a £52m deal.