Cristian Romero will leave Tottenham Hotspur this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Spurs have had a very busy summer so far, bringing in six players for Roberto De Zerbi. Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, and Martin Dubravka have all joined on free transfers, while the club has also signed Jan Paul van Hecke for around £52m, and broken their transfer record twice to sign Mateus Fernandes (£85m) and Sandro Tonali (£100m).
But while De Zerbi is keen to continue adding to his squad before the new season, with forwards seen as a priority, it has now emerged that he will lose his captain during the transfer window.
Romano: Romero to Leave Tottenham
Romero, who has been described as 'world-class', had been expected to leave the north London club this summer after growing frustrated at the club not competing at the highest level.
Spurs have signed two new central defenders already this summer in anticipation of his exit, but Romano has now revealed that talks are underway for the Argentina star to depart.
Serie A champions Inter Milan have opened discussions over a deal to take him back to Serie A, while also showing an interest in full-back Djed Spence, but they are not alone in their interest.
Spanish champions Barcelona are also keen on a deal for the 28-year-old, as they look to bolster their defensive options. However, it's understood that the costs of the deal would be very high, which is making any move stall at this stage.
However, it has now been confirmed that Romero will leave the club, and all parties are working towards finding an agreement to get the deal done once he returns from the World Cup.
Tottenham Well Prepared for Romero Exit
While it has now been reported as a certainty, Spurs will have known that their captain was going to be on the move for much longer.
Despite being a hugely important and popular figure in the changing room, it was known that he was unhappy when he started making public posts going against the ownership. His injury at the end of the season also meant that he wasn't around during the run-in where they saved themselves from relegation.
Spurs have already got their replacements in, and De Zerbi will have known when he took over that this was likely, so now it's just about getting the best possible deal.