Manchester United have already made enquiries over a summer deal for Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero, following claims of a shock clause in his contract, according to SportsBoom.
Man United's focus on the pitch remains ensuring they do qualify for the Champions League next season, following their wobble against Leeds United at Old Trafford on Monday night.
The three-and-a-half week break between their draw with Bournemouth and the clash against Daniel Farke's men seemed to affect their rhythm, as the visitors dominated in the opening 45 minutes of their 2-1 win.
United are still third and all is not lost ahead of this weekend, as they know finishing in the top five places in the Premier League will be enough to guarantee they return to the Champions League for the first time since being eliminated in the old format of the group stages in 2023.
Michael Carrick's side currently lie seven points ahead of sixth-placed Chelsea, and they can extend that advantage to 10 points on Saturday when they face the Blues at Stamford Bridge.
They will have to do it with just one fit senior centre-back however, after Leny Yoro picked up a new injury that could rule him out for the rest of the season.
According to SportsBoom, Romero is widely expected to walk away from Tottenham this summer, regardless of which division they find themselves in next season.
If that is the case, then the Spurs captain has already played his last game for the club, having been ruled out for the rest of the season following the knee injury he suffered against Sunderland in Roberto De Zerbi's first match in charge of the club.
The report says that United have already made 'early enquiries' over a potential summer deal for the 27-year-old, believing that he is ready-made for them given his experience and the fact he is in his prime.
United won't have things all their own way if they do firm up their initial interest though, with Premier League rivals Newcastle United and Crystal Palace having also made tentative checks on the player's situation, as well as interest from European clubs.
Romero Claimed to Have Shock Contract Clause
The report also claims that should Tottenham drop into the Championship, there is a clause in Romero's contract that would allow him to leave the club for free.
It seems extremely unlikely Spurs would have included anything like this in his contract when they signed him, with his current deal due to expire in 2029.
If there is any truth to it though, then United are likely to face stiff competition should Tottenham drop into the Championship, with the player having no interest in playing in England's second tier.
That is a genuine possibility right now, with Spurs two points from safety with six Premier League matches left to play, and given they are without a top-flight win in 2026.
One big concern over potentially signing Romero is his disciplinary record, given he has been sent off six times in all competitions for signing for Tottenham in 2021.