Atalanta centre-back Cristian Romero is Spurs‘ top target to replace outgoing 32-year-old defender Toby Alderweireld, who is set to complete a deal with Qatari club Al-Duhail for around £13 million.
It’s hard to believe that the Belgium international has been at the club since 2015, but since Jan Vertonghen’s decline in form and then departure, Alderweireld just hasn’t looked the same and Fabio Paratici knows that a defensive overhaul is required if the team is to return to Champions League Football and win trophies.
https://twitter.com/GicaCalcio/status/1418303601953366016?s=20
Romero, 23, won the Serie A Defender of the Year last season, making a monumental impression not just in Italian football, but in European football too as he starred in Atalanta’s 2-0 group stage win over Liverpool at Anfield, among other group stage games.
However, despite how desperate Paratici is to bring him to Spurs, the Italian club’s demands are high and if the club can’t work out a payment structure for him, they may be forced to turn to a plan B which will see them bring in THREE defenders for the same price.
Cristian Romero is really pushing for a #thfc transfer. [Fabrizio Romano]
— Hotspur Related (@HotspurRelated) July 26, 2021
The alternative trio are Chelsea’s Kurt Zouma, Fiorentina’s Nikola Milenkovic and Bologna’s Takehiro Tomiyasu – who is already in advanced discussions with the club over a transfer anyway.
Tottenham still in negotiation for Cristian Romero but no agreement yet on €55m fee – he’s the priority. 100%. ⚪️ #THFC
Plan B: open talks to sign 3 different defenders with same amount. Tomiyasu [€18m], Milenkovic [€15m] and Zouma [€25m].
Caleta-Car, NOT even an option.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 26, 2021
Fabrizio Romano was the journalist to break the news – and he also reported that the trio would cost €55 million altogether – exactly what Atalanta are demanding for just Cristian Romero.
It’s hard to see Zouma in a Spurs shirt – particularly as he is still under contract at a rival team, but the other two transfers are smart deals if Romero is completely off the table.
🗞[@TeleFootball] | Tottenham Hotspur are still negotiating a deal for Takehiro Tomiyasu, who is at the Olympics with Japan.
🇯🇵Tomiyasu can play centre-back and right-back, personal terms will not be an issue should the clubs agree to a fee.#THFC #COYSpic.twitter.com/hS5hjkiKrq
— Last Word On Spurs (@LastWordOnSpurs) July 26, 2021
Tomiyasu is a very versatile defender who would significantly strengthen the right-back position, while Milenkovic is also just 23-years-old and represents great value at just €15 million.
Should Romero join, Milenkovic should definitely be a target anyway if the club cannot afford Jules Kounde from Sevilla, and he would also strengthen the side in defence and could form a solid partnership at the heart of defence with the Atalanta centre-back.
https://twitter.com/RightInteriorMF/status/1418532606619041798?s=20
Meanwhile, Romano also confirmed that reports linking the club with a move for Marseille defender Duje Caleta-Car are completely false and he is not a target for the club this Summer.