Interest in Cristian Romero is heating up, as Spanish outlet Sport claims that a new club have "contacted" the Tottenham captain ahead of the summer transfer window.
The 28-year-old is one of several stars who have been linked with an exit in the coming weeks, as Spurs look set for plenty of changes, regardless of their position in the Premier League.
With two points separating Roberto De Zerbi's side from safety, the main goal is survival, but that may not be enough to keep someone like Romero at the club.
Teams are already circling the World Cup winner, and a move could be on the way soon.
According to the report from Sport, Barcelona have "already contacted" Romero's representatives to make them aware of their transfer interest.
The Argentinian centre-back is a new consideration for the hierarchy at the Camp Nou, following months of monitoring a potential deal for Inter Milan star Alessandro Bastoni.
While Bastoni remains the first-choice target for Barcelona, the transfer fee could put them off any deal, with Romero viewed as imminently more accessible to the club.
The Tottenham captain could be available via a reported release clause this summer, though it remains to be seen the exact terms that could be triggered by, as the details remain unclear.
That could leave Spurs helpless to do anything, while they will feel aggrieved that Romero cannot help the club in the rest of their battle against relegation, following the injury that has ruled him out until the end of the campaign.
Does Cristian Romero have a Tottenham release clause?
Cristian Romero's father, Victor Romero, recently revealed that the Tottenham defender does have a release clause inserted in his deal at the club.
It came as something of a surprise, given the star's importance to Spurs at times, which was highlighted by the signing of a new contract last year until 2029.
Romero senior revealed the release clause in mid-April, telling Cadena3: "He has two [three] more years on his contract with Tottenham and a very high release clause.
"The English club isn't going to let him go for free; it's between $50-70m [£37.8m-£53m]. For me, they'll want to recover what they invested."
The £53 million figure could be the best that Tottenham hope for in the situation, which could allow them to reinvest once again.
However, with the potential loss of Romero in the coming months, there is a clear leadership and quality gap that will need to be filled by those at the top.