Newcastle United have made contact with Tottenham Hotspur over a deal to sign captain Cristian Romero this summer after a shock clause was revealed, according to Sports Boom.
The Magpies have had a disappointing season and look set to miss out on European football for next season, leaving Eddie Howe looking to rebuild his squad in the summer window, with a number of stars linked with a move away and replacements being sought after.
Central defender Fabian Schar is someone who looks set to move on, with his contract due to expire at the end of the season, and now the Toon have made their move over an ambitious deal to bring the World Cup winner to St James' Park in a surprise swoop.
Romero, who has been described as 'world-class', looks set to leave Spurs with the north London club currently battling against relegation with just six game remaining.
The centre-back signed a new contract with Tottenham last summer but has grown increasingly frustrated with the club, and now looks set to leave amid big interest from clubs in Spain and in the Premier League.
But in a shock twist, a report by Sports Boom has revealed that the Argentine has a clause in his contract that allows him to walk away from Tottenham for free if they are relegated from the Premier League, which has opened the door for clubs to try and convince him to join them.
Newcastle are understood to have made tentative checks with Spurs and Romero about a potential move, as they look to add a top player to their squad in a rare opportunity on the market.
Romero has previously been open about wanting to play in Spain, and Newcastle's own poor season may hinder their chances of a deal, but they are trying to get a deal done.
Newcastle Would Make Statement With Romero Deal
In the current market, Romero would easily be a player worth upwards of £50m, even if Spurs are in the Championship, so the opportunity to sign him for nothing is a no-brainer, especially for a club like Newcastle.
Losing Schar and Trippier for nothing this summer will see big leadership holes to fill, while there is also talk stars like Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes could be on the move. But bringing in someone like Romero would show they are on the right track, and would be a real statement of intent.
Convincing him to join over other options won't be easy to do, but they have the financial power and ambition to make a strong case.