The ambition of Spurs in this Summer transfer window cannot be questioned, as Managing Director Fabio Paratici has worked day and night to ensure the team strengthens for the upcoming season.
Goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini has already completed a loan move to Spurs, while a deal for Sevilla wonderkid Bryan Gil has already been completed – with Erik Lamela confirmed as a new signing for the La Liga side.
The life of Bryan. pic.twitter.com/Ds3IPhsH3A
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) July 26, 2021
Gollini’s former teammate at Atalanta, Cristian Romero, is also closing in on a move to the club and is said to be very keen on making the transfer happen.
🚨 NEW: Tottenham & Atalanta are now discussing about the timing and structure of payments for defender Cristian Romero. [@FabrizioRomano] pic.twitter.com/Bb0s57PJy2
— The Spurs Web (@thespursweb) July 26, 2021
After Toby Alderweireld’s departure to Qatari club Al-Duhail, which is yet to be confirmed but is all but done, Spurs are desperate to replace him with a much younger and more in-form centre-back – and Romero fits that bill perfectly.
Cristian Romero Serie A stats in 20/21:
#1 in tackles
#1 in tackles in own half
#3 in aerial duels
#1 in aerial duels in own half
#5 in passes into box completion rate
#10 in 1v1 success rate[Source: https://t.co/gz5FJTH62U] #thfc pic.twitter.com/zGskN8S6O7
— Hotspur Lane (@HotspurLane) July 19, 2021
However, the club are also looking to move on not only Davinson Sanchez, but also Eric Dier and Cameron Carter-Vickers, which would leave just Joe Rodon as the sole senior centre-back until the Argentinean defender pens his contract with the club.
https://twitter.com/TheThfcBlog/status/1419594016018952195?s=20
Should all three leave the club, the door could be opened for more serious negotiations with Sevilla over French defender Jules Kounde – who is believed to be open for a move to Spurs should Real Madrid not come in for him to replace Manchester United-bound Raphael Varane.
Spurs have already completed one deal from the Spanish club, which saw wonderkid Gil sign on a long-term contract and Lamela head in the other direction – and a similar deal could be done in order to lower the asking price by giving them Colombian defender Sanchez, who is already interesting the La Liga club.
– Koundé is interested in joining Tottenham but his priority is Madrid.
– Madrid are not interested in signing Koundé.
– Sevilla are interested in Sanchez who we are willing to sell this summer.
Why does this seem to make too much sense to get over the line?
— Hotspur Edition (@HotspurEdition) July 26, 2021
A potential partnership between Romero and Kounde would be sensational – as both players arguably should be playing for the world’s top clubs challenging for continental trophies – and with Spurs not in the Champions League, both players would be required to sacrifice football in that competition to help the club return to it next season.
Their attributes compliment each other too – with Romero slightly stronger in the air and into the tackle but Kounde with his lightening pace and impressive dribbling and passing range for a centre-back making him a bit more of a ball-carrier but also excellent on the cover.
With Sergio Reguilon and new signing Gil already in the squad, Kounde would become the third member of the team who spent a significant part of their career developing at Sevilla, and with both current Spurs players suited to the left-hand side, the 22-year-old centre-back could play on that side too at least while he settles into the club.
HERE WE GO 🤲🏻😄 https://t.co/fkA0QaVbHg
— Sergio Reguilón (@sergio_regui) July 26, 2021
Both men are big-game players and also have extremely high potentials – and their re-sell value could be far higher than what we would pay for them – if we were forced into a sale.
If Fabio Paratici pulls this off, Spurs would become a force with quality all over the pitch, and hopefully results will flow quickly.