Tottenham are preparing for life after Cristian Romero, as TeamTalk has reported that the club are making moves behind the scenes to help facilitate an exit.
The centre-back has been with the North London club since 2022, growing into an important presence in the backline in the four years he has spent there.
The 28-year-old has made over 150 appearances for Spurs, in which he became club captain and led the team to Europa League glory last year.
However, frustrations have grown with Romero, as Tottenham's scare with Premier League relegation has only highlighted concerns with the Argentina international.
Even with survival confirmed, it appears as though the club captain is now set for an exit, with clubs circling a possible deal.
Tottenham Ready To Sell Cristian Romero
Romero's potential exit comes as little surprise, but TeamTalk reports that Tottenham are actively making moves to help push through a deal this summer.
It's claimed that Spurs have instructed intermediaries to complete a move, with the relationship internally between the club and player described as "strained" after recent weeks.
That comes after controversy behind the scenes between Romero and Tottenham, after reports claimed he would be in Argentina over the weekend to watch his boyhood club Belgrano take on River Plate in an important fixture, with the title on the line.
However, the defender made a return to England and was present for his club's final match of the season against Everton, which saw the Lilywhites avoid relegation in tense circumstances.
Romero's possible exit comes despite the importance that Roberto De Zerbi outlined for the centre-back when he initially took the job at Tottenham.
Speaking to NBC Sports in April, the Spurs manager said: "I think Cuti is crucial for us, crucial for Tottenham as a club. He is the captain, he is maybe the most important player in our squad, and to achieve our goal, we need the best of Romero."
Atletico Madrid have been described as the most likely destination, while Barcelona have also been linked with a switch for the star.
Tottenham Need Defensive Reinforcements
While Romero looks set to make an exit this summer, he may not be the only Tottenham star from the backline who could leave the club.
Micky van de Ven is a defender in-demand, having been linked with a move to Liverpool and Manchester United, while Radu Dragusin is another player who could leave.
That means reinforcements are needed, with Marcos Senesi set to join Tottenham as the first signing of the summer after agreeing a deal so long as relegation was avoided.
With no European football, there is less need to sign quite as many options for depth, but another starting defender would be needed to bolster the team.
It remains to be seen who will be in contention, with clear upgrades needed across the squad.