TEAMtalk

Atletico Madrid’s swoop for Tottenham centre-back, Cristian Romero, is advancing, while reports also claim Spurs aren’t likely to collect as big of a fee as you might expect.

Romero, 26, is a guaranteed starter at Spurs, though injuries and poor form have put a pin in his balloon this season. The Argentine is not alone in struggling in a Tottenham shirt, though unlike most, his future could lay away from north London sooner rather than later.

Romero is a target for LaLiga giants Real Madrid who will explore the signing of a new centre-back at season’s end.

However, Real Madrid also have their eye on Spain international Dean Huijsen of Bournemouth. Huijsen is seven years Romero’s junior and unlike the Tottenham man, hasn’t put a foot wrong this season.

As such, the door has been opened forReal’s great rivals Atletico Madrid and few players in world football look better suited to Diego Simeone than Romero.

Aside from both being Argentinian, the pair are feisty characters to say the least and Romero’s aggressive style of play would mesh well with what Simeone has built at Atleti.

And according to the latest from AS reporter, Edu Burgos, Romero to Atletico Madrid is rapidly advancing.

Taking to X, Burgos claimed forging an agreement on personal terms will not be an issue between Atleti and Romero.

Striking a club-to-club deal with Tottenham is where the difficulty will lay, though Burgos is adamant a move is advancing.

“Atletico Madrid is speeding up the move for ‘Cuti’ Romero,” wrote Burgos. “Simeone’s top priority ahead of the Club World Cup.

“A personal agreement isn’t a problem. Negotiating with Tottenham is. The player likes the idea of ​​living in Madrid.”

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How much will Tottenham demand for Romero?

According to Football Insider, Tottenham and Daniel Levy may be willing to part ways with Romero if £50m is bid.

While that may sound a significant fee to some, it is around half of what Levy previously valued the centre-back at.

Explaining why Spurs could accept a discounted bid, FI highlighted two factors – Romero’s patchy injury record of late and his less than stellar form at club level.

Providing his own take on the situation for GiveMeSport, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano recently confirmed it’s a distinct possibility Romero leave Spurs in the summer.

However, Romano was keen to stress Spurs will only accept an exit on their terms and won’t be bullied into accepting an unsatisfactory bid.

“It’s a possibility but not something guaranteed as it depends on Daniel Levy, and we know how strong Spurs are in negotiations,” said Romano.

“So it’s something possible, definitely; but it has to be an important financial package or Levy won’t accept anything.”

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Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Cristian Romero could reportedly be prised away from the club for a cut-price fee in the summer transfer window, as both Atletico and Real Madrid continue to circle for the Argentine.

Speculation over the 26-year-old’s future is growing like wildfire after he aimed a veiled dig at the club’s medical team for failing to get him back on the pitch quickly enough during a defensive injury crisis.

It’s also common knowledge that Romero has become increasingly frustrated by the lack of investment in the playing squad in his role as one of Ange Postecoglou’s vice-captains.

All that is looking increasingly certain to add up to a summer exit for a player who has been at Tottenham since arriving initially on loan from Atalanta in 2021, making 115 appearances so far in the process.

LaLiga heavyweights Atletico Madrid recently stormed into the race to snap up the World Cup winner, as they look to beat out their city rivals in the process – given Real’s longstanding interest in Romero.

Diego Simeone is said to be keen for Romero to link up with international teammates like Rodrigo De Paul, Julian Alvarez, Angel Correa and Nahuel Molina at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium.

And now a fresh report from Football Insider has revealed that Tottenham could be willing to accept an offer of around £50million (€60m / $64m) for Romero, despite Daniel Levy previously valuing the central defender at double that figure.

The reasoning behind that drop in valuation is the recent injury issues that have bugged the Argentina international, while his form at club level has been inconsistent at best over the past year.

If Spurs were to fetch close to that proposed figure, it would still represent a profit on a player who remains under contract until June 2027 and who cost £42m four years ago.

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➡️ Top five Tottenham replacements for Cristian Romero ranked as clear favourite emerges

Tottenham told long-term defensive target is ‘better than Romero’

As Spurs made their moves in January to try and bring in extra defensive help, a former player and manager of the club cited Marc Guehi as a perfect fit to play alongside Micky van den Ven at the heart of Ange Postecoglou’s defence.

Tottenham saw an offer rebuffed for the Crystal Palace and England star on deadline day in the winter window but maintain a strong interest in recruiting Guehi this summer.

A fee in the region of £65-70m is likely to be needed to get their man, but if Spurs can offload Romero then the addition of Guehi really is a no-brainer – if they convince the player into a move across the capital.

And Tim Sherwood was pushing hard for that move late in the January window, telling Sky Sports before it shut: “If you’re going to try and get Marc Guehi now, you are going to pay over the odds. I think he is worth paying over the odds.

“The two best centre-backs Tottenham have at the club are Cristian Romero and Micky Van de Ven. And unless you can go and get somebody better than them two there’s no point of bringing a body in for the sake of it.

“With Marc Guehi he is better than Romero in my opinion but he’s not better than Van de Ven, they are completely different but he will be one of the best centre-backs they can get.”

Better than Romero is a bold call from Sherwood, although on the evidence of their respective performances this season there is a strong argument to suggest he could be right.

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Manchester United are considering a move for Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze, TEAMtalk understands, but it will take a big fee to land him and they face competition.

The Red Devils have an extensive list of targets for the summer window, with Director of Recruitment Christopher Vivell and Technical Director Jason Wilcox taking a data-led approach in identifying suitable players.

Man Utd are in a tight PSR (Profitability and Sustainability Rules) position, so may need to sell players before any big-money signings are made.

TEAMtalk understands that Crystal Palace playmaker Eze has been highlighted by recruiters at Man Utd and they are considering him as a potential option for the summer.

Sources state that Amorim is an admirer of Eze and believes he would fit into the team well, playing as one of the no. 10s in his side.

As previously reported, it will take a starting bid of £60m for Palace to consider selling Eze this summer, but there is a belief that the England international is ready to take the next step in his career.

Man Utd will face competition for Eze, however, with Tottenham long-term admirers of the 26-year-old. Spurs are keeping a close eye on his situation, but want to sort out their managerial situation before making any final decision, with Ange Postecoglou under pressure.

Man Utd keen on TWO Crystal Palace stars

Palace’s £60m price tag for Eze is a potential roadblock for Man Utd. The Eagles are also not keen to lose too many players this season as they look to build on a successful campaign under Oliver Glasner.

As we exclusively revealed, four of Palace’s key players are being targeted by top sides – Eze, Adam Wharton, Marc Guehi and Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Interestingly, sources have confirmed that Man Utd have looked at Palace striker Mateta, although they state the interest is “light and not too serious.”

Amorim wants Man Utd to sign a new striker this summer, who can compete with Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, and Mateta is one of several players on the shortlist.

Mateta has had a fantastic season but Eze is undoubtedly a top player too. He can play as a winger or attacking midfielder, and has notched six goals and nine assists in 31 games across all competitions this season.

With this in mind, it’s no surprise to see Man Utd and Tottenham both very keen on Eze. Whether either club will match his £60m valuation still remains to be seen.

The Red Devils are also looking at full backs and are huge fans of Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong but face a huge battle to land him as there is major interest in his signature.

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Rumours of Fabio Paratici’s imminent return to Tottenham continue to ramp up, and now a club insider claims that the Italian could use his extensive list of contacts to set up a meeting with a top coach to replace Ange Postecoglou.

The Australian is on thin ice after a disastrous season domestically in north London, and it’s likely that leading the club to Europa League glory will be the only thing that keeps him in a job at Tottenham beyond the summer.

While Postecoglou continues to fight for his job, Paratici looks set to walk straight back into employment with Spurs after reportedly holding talks with Daniel Levy over a return when his ban relating to the Prisma/capital gains case ends in the summer.

The 52-year-old is also on the radar of AC Milan, but it’s understood that Paratici favours a return to the Premier League and also laid some groundwork for potential new midfield signings at Tottenham.

In terms of Postecoglou’s future, TT understands that the former Celtic chief looks increasingly likely to leave and that Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola has emerged as the top candidate for the role.

Brentford’s Thomas Frank, Fulham boss Marco Silva and former Dortmund coach Edin Terzic are also greatly admired, while links to Mauricio Pochettino refuse to go away despite the Argentine being focused on leading USA to a home World Cup in 2026.

But Tottenham insider John Wenham thinks Paratici could use his ‘deep contacts in the field’ to set up a meeting with former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez, in what be a real coup for the north London club.

“Xavi would be someone I would look to contact,” Wenham told Tottenham News.

“If Spurs have any sort of ambition, that is the calibre of manager we should be going after. I understand you need the contacts to help make it happen.

“However, Paratici managed to attract Antonio Conte, which didn’t seem possible at the time. I’m sure he could help Tottenham get a meeting with Xavi.

“Look at what Xavi did with Barcelona, with so many restrictions against him. It was incredible. He brought through a lot of young players and gave the likes of Lamine Yamal a platform to perform. Therefore, he is someone I’d be asking the question of.”

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Paratici importance to Tottenham cannot be overlooked

The former Juventus sporting director has played a significant role in Tottenham’s business in recent times, bringing in the likes of Cristian Romero, Pedro Porro, Rodrigo Bentancur, Destiny Udogie and Dejan Kulusevski, as well as appointing Antonio Conte, with whom he had worked at Juventus before.

He is well known for having deep contacts in the game and is also free to arrange talks between Spurs and Xavi, even though he is currently no longer officially tied to the club.

As for Xavi, the Spain legend is currently out of work after walking away from the Camp Nou at the end of last season.

The 45-year-old guided Barca to the LaLiga title last season and promoted an eye-catching brand football that also included bringing through plenty of younger talent – making him an almost perfect fit at Tottenham.

He reportedly only parted ways with the club he made over 750 appearances for after becoming ‘fed up with toxicity of being in the Barca environment’, which had ‘consequences for his closest family’.

Barcelona’s financial constraints also made life tough, making the club’s title win under Xavi that bit even more remarkable.

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Aston Villa are hoping to beat Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United to the signing of Noni Madueke, with Chelsea reportedly warming to his exit.

Madueke returned to England in January 2023 when he joined Chelsea from PSV in a £30million deal. The winger had previously spent time in the Crystal Palace and Tottenham academies before heading to the Netherlands.

So far, Madueke has managed 17 goals and seven assists in 74 appearances for Chelsea. That includes eight goals and four assists in 28 games this term.

The 23-year-old is very talented and is thought to have a bright future at the top of the game. Although, he has not performed consistently enough under Enzo Maresca, which could result in Chelsea selling up this summer.

According to GiveMeSport, Chelsea are ‘giving indications’ that they will listen to offers for Madueke in the summer.

Aston Villa captured Ian Maatsen from Chelsea last summer and they are ‘eager’ to reunite him with Madueke in the West Midlands, it is claimed.

Villa are ‘leading the race’ for Madueke, viewing this summer as ‘an ideal opportunity to capitalise on the uncertainty over his future’.

Chelsea believe they can make a profit on Madueke, which suggests his price tag will be more than £30m once the transfer window reopens.

The right-sided attacker is ‘open’ to a move if it means he will get more minutes. When all of Chelsea’s forwards are fit, Madueke has to compete with Pedro Neto for a starting spot at Stamford Bridge.

Spurs, Villa and Newcastle all eyeing Madueke

TEAMtalk revealed on Wednesday that Villa, Tottenham and Newcastle are all keen on signing Madueke.

Sources confirmed to our transfer correspondent Fraser Fletcher that Tottenham are plotting a move for Madueke. Sources have also stated that Madueke is not in Maresca’s long-term plans and Chelsea are therefore ready to cash in.

TEAMtalk understands that the player would ideally like to stay in London if he is to leave Chelsea. That gives Spurs an advantage and also means Villa will have to convince Madueke on leaving the capital before they can complete the transfer.

Earlier this week, it was claimed that Italian giants AC Milan are ‘confident’ about snaring Madueke. Whether they can compete financially with Spurs, Villa and Newcastle remains to be seen.

In addition to Maatsen, Villa and Chelsea dealt with each other in the winter transfer window when defender Axel Disasi headed to Villa Park on a six-month loan.

Were Madueke to join Villa, then he would rival the likes of Leon Bailey and Donyell Malen for game time. His sale would also give Chelsea extra cash to improve their own forward line.

Chelsea in Man City battle; Rashford claim

Meanwhile, Chelsea and Manchester City are preparing to battle for the signing of Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar, as per a report.

The 25-year-old is unhappy with Roma’s latest contract offer, prompting interest from the two Premier League giants.

Elsewhere, England icon Paul Gascoigne has playfully hinted Marcus Rashford could emerge as a target for Real Madrid if he shines for Villa in the coming months.

Rashford joined the Villans in early February, and the deal includes a £40m buy option.

It appears that Tottenham may have the decision whether or not to sign Mathys Tel taken out of their hands by Bayern Munich, following the recently implemented change to the summer transfer window.

The French forward joined Spurs in the January transfer window, signing on loan until the end of the season in search of more regular game time, after failing to make his mark following Vincent Kompany’s arrival at the Bundesliga giants.

Tel has hardly hit the ground running in north London either though, having scored just once in seven games for Tottenham so far, and the jury is still out over the agreed €55million (£45.7m) purchase option set for the attacker.

However, Bayern could completely undercut that, with Kicker reporting that the Bavarian side are actually considering calling back all the players who are out on loan ahead of the Club World Cup, which begins on June 14 in the United States.

Tel’s contract with Spurs is due to expire on June 30, but FIFA has opened up a new transfer window between June 1 and June 10, in what will lead to two separate windows this summer.

That could allow Bayern to terminate their existing agreement with Tottenham and bring back the Frenchman.

The split transfer window was ratified earlier this week, with the second window then re-opening from June 16 until September 1 – and that could represent a huge issue, if they decide they actually want to keep Tel.

The 19-year-old previously made it clear that he would be open to staying when he signed in February. “Why I chose Tottenham, because that was the best option for me, what was important for me.

“I felt the commitment, I spoke with the president [chairman Daniel Levy], talked with the manager. I’m young, I’ve started to grow up and this was the best option for me and I’m very happy.

“I’m very excited to play with my team-mates, for the fans. That’s a new challenge for me, a new chapter to open.”

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Postecoglou calling for patience with Bayern loanee

Whether the situation is taken out of Tottenham’s hands or not, Ange Postecoglou is still calling for patience when it comes to eventually seeing the best from the France Under-21 international.

Speaking earlier this month, the Spurs boss said: “Mathys came in a really tricky time for us in that it’s different if you haven’t been playing regularly and then jump in but he’s kind of been trying to build up his fitness.

“At the same time we’ve been putting him out there pretty regularly because of our lack of options.

“He’s still a young man, it’s a different league and there are different demands. Certainly at the moment we are not in our best moment like last night when he is going to get loads of chances.

“Again, working with him since he came in, he’s got a really strong head on his shoulders and last night, as disappointed as he was to come off, it didn’t seem to affect him in terms of his mental aptitude to deal with it and get on with it and try and make an impact in the best way he can.”

He added: “[Mathys] hasn’t made the impact that he probably wanted to but the circumstances of where we are at, I think it’s unfair to put that on his shoulders. He has done as well as he possibly can. I’m sure in between now and the end of the year people will see him and realise what a talent he is and my job is to make sure we protect him through that.”

Tel will be hoping to add to that single goal he has scored so far when Tottenham head to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on Thursday night, a ground they have won just once at in the Premier League era.

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Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Jack Grealish after Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola’s decision to sell the midfielder, according to reports, as TEAMtalk reveals the two other Premier League clubs who are keen on the former Aston Villa star.

Much was expected of Grealish when he joined Man City from Villa in the summer of 2021. The Cityzens’ Director of Football, Txiki Begiristain, described Grealish as “an incredible talent” on the club’s official website at the time, noting that “his natural talent together with his commitment to improve as a player, has seen him become one of the most exciting attacking players in world football”.

Then only 25, Grealish was expected to develop further and take his game to the next level under Man City manager Guardiola, but that has not been the case.

The England international winger, who is 29 now, is not guaranteed a place in the Man City starting line-up.

Grealish has made only six starts in the Premier League so far this season and started just 10 league games in the 2023-24 campaign.

According to TuttoJuve, Grealish has ‘lost’ his ‘importance’ in the Man City team, and ‘Guardiola believes that the best thing would be to change’ clubs.

The report, which has named Ederson, Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne as the other Man City players who could leave this summer, has revealed that ‘there are more and more voices calling for his departure’ from the Etihad Stadium.

A separate report in GiveMeSport has revealed that Tottenham have a genuine interest in signing Grealish from Premier League rivals Man City in the summer transfer window.

However, the problem that Spurs face is that they would have to convince the English winger to take a pay-cut.

Grealish earns £300,000 per week at Man City and would not fit in Tottenham’s wage structure.

‘Tottenham’s wage structure means that their star players do not earn more than £200,000 a week, and that would put him in line with their top earners like Heung-Min Son,’ stats the report.

Chelsea and Newcastle United want Jack Grealish – sources

TEAMtalk can back TuttoJuve’s claim that Man City want to sell Grealish this summer.

Our transfer correspondent Fraser Fletcher reported on March 25 that Man City are ready to offload Grealish at the end of the season.

The defending Premier League champions want to recoup as much as the £100million they spent on the winger.

Sources have told TEAMtalk that Newcastle United and AC Milan are keen on a summer deal for Grealish.

We understand that Chelsea have also been mentioned as a possible destination for Grealish, who wants to play at the highest level if he wants to leave the Etihad Stadium this summer.

Latest Tottenham news: Nico Williams interest, Romero exit

TEAMtalk’s transfer correspondent Fraser Fletcher has reported that Tottenham are interested in signing Nico Williams from Athletic Bilbao in the summer transfer window.

Williams has a release clause of €58m (£48.9m, $63.5m) in his contract with Athletic, and Tottenham find it very attractive.

Sources have intimated to TEAMtalk that Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are also interested in a summer deal for Williams.

Fraser Fletcher has also reported that Cristian Romero is ready to leave Tottenham at the end of the season.

Atletico Madrid want to sign the Argentina international centre-back and have made contact with his agents.

Meanwhile, TEAMtalk’s Italian football correspondent Rudy Galetti has reported that Fabio Paratici plans to sign Torino star Samuele Ricci and Atalanta ace Ederson for Tottenham once his suspension ends in the coming months.

With Cristian Romero looking increasingly likely to quit Tottenham this summer, TT has taken a look at the central defenders who could replace the Argentine in north London and ranked them in order from least likely to sign to the best fit.

As we’ve reported, Romero is pushing for a summer exit after recently aiming shots at the club’s medical team for failing to get him back to fitness quicker, during a time when Spurs had numerous defensive issues.

It’s also common knowledge that the 26-year-old has become frustrated with the lack of serious funds being invested in the first-team squad, as Tottenham have alarmingly slid down the Premier League table.

Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid are both keen on Romero, with a move to Spain looking pretty much nailed-on at this point. To that end, TT has taken a look at five centre-backs linked with moves to north London and ranked them in the order in which we think a deal could happen.

The experienced Slovakia international has been on Tottenham’s radar since Jose Mourinho’s tie in charge in north London and while those links have dissipated in recent times, Skriniar remains an option to replace Romero.

Mourinho did finally get his man, with the 30-year-old currently on loan in Turkey with Fenerbahce from PSG, where he has 12 appearances so far.

Skriniar’s ability to play centrally or at full-back makes him an attractive proposition, although he is more naturally left-sided so would not give the ideal balance alongside Micky van de Ven at the heart of the Tottenham backline.

The former Inter Mian star’s value has dropped though, so he would likely be a cheaper fix and could fill the Ben Davies role – if Tottenham allow the Wales star to walk away on a free this summer.

Ange Postecoglou is known to be a particular fan of the Everton defender, who also prefers to play on the left but is comfortable enough pushing to the right.

The 22-year-old certainly fits in with the current Spurs remit on focusing on younger talent, however, there is one major hurdle that will almost certainly end all hopes of a deal.

Manchester United are huge admirers of Branthwaite and have been for some, while the player himself would get to remain in the north if he does ultimately decide on a switch to Old Trafford.

Everton are also remaining staunch in their £70million valuation of the England international, although that figure is unlikely to be an issue for Spurs given what they can recoup for Romero.

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The cheapest option of the lot, given that Tah looks set to walk away from Bayer Leverkusen on a free transfer this summer.

Liverpool and Barcelona have also been heavily linked with the Germany international, who has spent the last decade at Leverkusen and played a key role in their first-ever Bundesliga title win last season.

Capped 35 times by his country, Tah is a more natural fit on the right and is known for his positioning and ability in possession, along with his leadership and communication skills.

He also has that special trait Ange Postecoglou in particular loves, speed. He was clocked as one of the quickest central defenders in Germany last season and would be a great alongside the unbelievably rapid Van de Ven.

The one thing that could against him is his age, with Tah approaching 30, and that leads us nicely on to our top contenders.

The Bournemouth defender has enjoyed an incredible rise down on the south coast, becoming one of the most talked about players in the Premier League as a result.

The Spaniard has scored twice in 27 outings for a Cherries side who currently sit 10th in the Premier League table but are only five points off the top four and also in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

Huijsen has made huge strides since leaving Juventus last summer and is now being touted to the likes of Spurs, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Chelsea.

The 19-year-old talent impressed in both games against Postecoglou’s men this season and scored his first Bournemouth goal in a 1-0 home win over Spurs earlier in the season.

He is capable of playing at right or left-sided centre-back and has a tremendous passing range and, standing at 6ft 6in, wins the majority of the aerial duels he contests.

He is not as fast as Van de Ven (not many are) but he would be a great compliment for the Dutchman in what could be Tottenham’s centre-back pairing for the next five years at least.

Huijsen will not come cheap though, with Bournemouth set to demand anywhere between £40-50m for the defensive talent.

This is the move that ticks the most boxes for Tottenham when it comes to replacing Romero, especially given the club’s last push to sign the Crystal Palace star last in the winter window.

The north London club failed with a deadline day offer for Guehi as they looked to bolster a backline that was still missing Romero and Van de Ven at the time, while Radu Dragusin had also been ruled out for at least six months with an ACL injury.

Guehi has also been heavily linked with Liverpool, Newcastle and Manchester United, along with a potential return to Chelsea, while he also remains an integral member of the current England squad.

The 24-year-old’s game is perfectly suited to pair up alongside Van de Ven, while he is also quicker than Romero and more capable of excelling in Postecoglou’s high line.

At this stage, Palace are refusing to budge in their valuation of between £70-80m for a player who remains under contract until 2026 – although this summer will be their last chance to recoup a significant fee for the player.

Given the pair’s respective form for their club sides over the last year, it could be argued that Guehi would represent an upgrade on Romero, who continues to deliver his best form in the blue and white of Argentina.

It just remains to be seen what path Tottenham tread this summer, as they prepare to make a significant change at the back.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly joined the likes Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Aston Villa in the race to sign a brilliant Ivory Coast international central defender, who could cost up to £50million.

The north London club are fully expected to be in the market for a new centre-back during the upcoming summer transfer window, as they prepare for the exit of Argentine World Cup winner Cristian Romero.

The 26-year-old looks increasingly likely to swap London for Madrid, as both Real and Atletico prepare to battle for his signature following recent reports of growing unrest at Tottenham.

Romero aimed a veiled dig at Spurs’ medical department while on international duty over the last week, while it’s also previously been claimed he has become increasingly frustrated by the lack of ambition being shown in the transfer market by the club.

All that appears to add up to a parting of ways in north London and, although Romero has not been at his best in a Tottenham shirt for some time, his exit will still leave a big hole to fill.

Kevin Danso is expected to turn his loan switch into a permanent this summer, while Spurs continue to be linked with a plethora of other central defensive options. However, latest reports suggest they have now switched their focus to Sporting star Ousmane Diomande.

TBR Football reports that Diomande is likely to leave the Portuguese club and that Spurs are one of the clubs in the race for the defender’s signature.

They also state that Tottenham have been long-time admirers of the 21-year-old and have followed his path to success since his days at FC Midtjylland.

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Clubs queuing up to sign impressive Diomande

As mentioned above, a number of top clubs are also in the running to sign Diomande, who has previously been tipped to link up with Ruben Amorim again at Manchester United.

To that end, the race for the defensive talent is expected to be fierce, with Sporting setting an asking price of around £50m (€60m /$65m) for a player TT revealed back in February is a ‘dream addition’ for Enzo Maresca at Chelsea.

Ousmane Diamonde has had a stellar career ever since making the switch to Sporting in January 2023, becoming an integral member of Amorim’s side that won the Portuguese league last season and is on course to do so again this term.

The fact that Diomande can fill in centrally or at right-back makes the 6ft 3in defender an even more intriguing proposition.

The Ivory Coast star is a player comfortable in possession who reads the game well and has a good turn of pace for a player of that size. His biggest weakness can be that he tends to rush into challenges, something Tottenham fans will have also grown use to seeing with Romero.

All that being said, Diomande would be a tremendous addition for Spurs – if they can win out in the growing race for his signature.

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🔵 Tottenham plotting raid on Chelsea for 17-goal winger as THREE Premier League clubs circle

Tottenham centre-back Cristian Romero has been heavily linked with an exit this summer and TEAMtalk can confirm that a European giant is leading the race for his signature, as he eyes a new challenge.

Spurs have endured a poor season and pressure is mounting on manager Ange Postecoglou, but work ahead of a big transfer window continues behind the scenes.

TEAMtalk understands that Tottenham are in the process of building a list of transfer targets, but they are also keen to offload players who are coming to the end of their time at the club.

One of those is centre-back Romero and sources close to the situation have revealed an update to TEAMtalk regarding his future.

There have been reports of interest in the Argentina international in Spain and sources have confirmed that Atletico Madrid are very keen on signing him this summer.

Atletico have made contact with the 26-year-old’s agents and are exploring the conditions of a deal that could see him make the switch to the Metropolitano this summer.

Sources have also confirmed that Romero would be open to joining Atletico. He is ready for a fresh experience and the opportunity to play at a club who are consistently in the Champions League. Atletico match those ambitions and the prospect of playing under Simeone is also something that’s said to be enticing. Romero remains a key player for Tottenham and starts almost every game when fit, but has his eyes set on a move away from London.

Atletico Madrid plotting Cristian Romero move – sources

Atletico’s rivals Real Madrid have also been linked with Romero and as previously reported, he is on their shortlist as they aim to bring in a new centre-back this summer.

However, Bournemouth youngster Dean Huijsen is Real’s no. 1 target for the position and TEAMtalk understands that they will pursue him ahead of other targets.

This gives Atletico the opportunity to swoop in for Romero’s signature, hence why they have moved quickly to begin discussions with the player’s camp.

Tottenham, for their part, are hoping to reduce the average age of their squad this summer. They are targeting younger players who can come in and have a positive impact on the first team.

Spurs have seen great success with the likes of Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall and are keen to see more talented youngsters join the squad, who can be key players in the long term.

Romero, meanwhile, was described as ‘the best centre-back in the world’ by the Argentinian press after his national team’s 4-1 victory over Brazil this week.

Atletico are understood to agree with that description and they have been tracking him for several months.

Simeone’s side have Romero at the top of their shortlist for the summer and they are quietly confident they can sign him at the end of the season.

The defender has made 115 appearances for Spurs since joining in 2022 and is now coming into the final 18 months of his contract.

Sources state that suitors will be able to strike a deal for a transfer fee in the region of £60m this summer.

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