Tottenham are on the verge of appointing Thomas Frank as their new head coach, following the sacking of Ange Postecoglou.
The Danish manager faces a tough challenge, with Tottenham’s summer shaped by uncertainty over Cristian Romero’s future.
TBR Football has reported that Daniel Levy will give one final chance of convincing the player to stay but Romero is ‘fully expected’ to leave Tottenham this summer.
His departure will leave a massive void in the heart of the defence, which will need to be adequately filled by Spurs.
Tottenham could sign Nathan Collins to replace Cristian Romero
One potential replacement for Romero is Brentford centre-back Nathan Collins, who is tied to the Bees until 2029.
The 24-year-old defender has impressed in the Premier League under Frank and would seamlessly fit into Tottenham’s setup, familiar with Frank’s style of play.
Collins arrived at Brentford in the summer of 2023 for a club-record £23 million from Wolves. He immediately became a key figure, establishing himself as a defensive mainstay.
This past season, Collins played every minute of Brentford’s Premier League campaign, joining Virgil van Dijk as one of only two outfield players to do so.
Collins is described by the Brentford website as a ‘born leader‘, with the Irish international highly regarded for his leadership, leading the team from the back.
With strong ball-playing skills and aerial dominance, Collins mirrors many of the traits Spurs would want in a Romero replacement.
Nathan Collins’ statistical comparison with Cristian Romero and Virgil van Dijk
Collins was among the best defenders in the league statistically, putting in top performances for Brentford throughout the season.
He had an injury-free season, starting every single Premier League match for Brentford. Romero meanwhile had another season marred with injuries, which saw him miss a major chunk of the season.
Despite playing in a less dominant Brentford team, Collins’ numbers are comparable to those of van Dijk and Romero, proving he has the quality to strengthen any side.
Tottenham would certainly benefit from his addition. However, they will face competition for his signature if they are to make a move.
Arsenal and Newcastle also interested in Nathan Collins
Collins’ performance for Brentford this past season has attracted plenty of attention from top clubs.
TBR Football previously reported that Arsenal are monitoring Collins ahead of a potential summer move.
It has also been reported by TBR Football that Newcastle have also been tracking Collins, with the club taking a growing interest in the Republic of Ireland international in recent months.
And now Frank’s impending appointment and Romero’s potential departure could possibly see Tottenham enter the conversation as well.