Tottenham Take First Step To Sign Incredible Star Ahead Of Liverpool
Roberto De Zerbi is already making plans to transform his defence at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next season.
There is a feeling around the club that Cristian Romero will be allowed to leave the Lilywhites in the summer transfer window, with plenty of interest from abroad in the Spurs club captain.
GIVEMESPORT senior football correspondent Ben Jacobs described Romero's situation as being a "begrudging exit" this summer.
He said: "I think Tottenham are resigned and almost prepared to endorse certain exits, whether they go down or stay up.
"In the case of Cristian Romero it is a more begrudging exit in that even if Tottenham do stay up there is a concrete possibility that he goes."
More defenders will follow Romero out of Tottenham
Romero is likely to be followed out of the door by Radu Dragusin, who is being linked with a number of clubs on the continent, while Ben Davies will depart at the end of his contract in June.
But coming in should be Andy Robertson from Liverpool and Marcos Senesi from Bournemouth, with Spurs having deals agreed in principle to sign the two free agents, providing they remain a Premier League club.
And Tottenham are also working on a deal - or maybe double deal - to reunite De Zerbi with one or two of his favourite players from his time at Brighton & Hove Albion.
Jan Paul van Hecke has been one of the standout stars in a Seagulls side that is on the cusp of European qualification this season. the Dutchman has played the full 90 minutes in 32 of the Seagull's 35 Premier League games this season, missing two matches through injury and illness and being substituted after an hour in one match.
De Zerbi arrived on the south coast in 2022, with van Hecke having joined a year previously. The defender had not been given much of a chance before the Italian arrived, having spent a year on loan with Blackburn. But De Zerbi transformed him.
Speaking about his improvement, De Zerbi said: "He is improving in an incredible way. He’s actually older than his age. His level is high, higher than people think. I am very proud of JP, his improvement has been fantastic."
Seagulls captain Lewis Dunk said in 2024: "It's the biggest improvement I've ever seen in a player since this manager arrived and I love it. He will give you everything he's got, every single day."
Spurs step up interest in Chelsea and Liverpool target
Now, according to reports in Teamtalk, Spurs are ready to make the first steps to bring him to north London this summer, with De Zerbi identifying the 25-year-old as a priority signing this summer.
Chelsea and Liverpool have also been credited with an interest, but the connection with De Zerbi may just give Tottenham the upper hand as they look to make their first move to negotiate terms of a deal with Brighton.
There are reports that van Hecke may not be the only one Spurs go to Brighton for, with Bart Verburggen also being named as a potential signing this summer. Guglielmo Vicario looks set to depart the club this summer, with Inter Milan his likely destination, so a new goalkeeper will be imperative when it comes to Spurs' transfer business.