Tottenham tipped to accept ‘big offer for Cristian Romero’
Tottenham Hotspur’s new manager will be happy to sell Cristian Romero if a suitable offer comes in for the centre-back this summer.
Spurs look set for sweeping changes this summer with Ange Postecoglou on the brink of the sack in North London, and his axing could come to pass even if Tottenham win the Europa League next month.
A number of highly-rated Premier League managers have been linked with the impending vacancy such as Brentford’s Thomas Frank, but whoever comes in will have a big decision to make on Romero’s future.
The Argentine’s erratic form during an injury-hit season hasn’t stopped interest from Atletico Madrid, as Football Insider revealed last month that the La Liga side are weighing up a £50million bid for Romero.
Now, former Spurs and England goalkeeper Paul Robinson has told Football Insider that if big offers do come in for Romero this summer, he’d be inclined to accept and use the money to rebuild their squad.
Romero ready for exit door at Tottenham
Man United’s former chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider earlier this month that both Madrid clubs are keen on Romero this summer, but his preference is to link up with Carlo Ancelotti’s Real side.
Romero’s centre-back partner Micky van de Ven has also been linked with a move away, but Tottenham will be more inclined to keep their number 37 despite Real Madrid being keen on the Dutchman too.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Robinson – who made 175 appearances across four seasons at Tottenham – argued that selling Romero would hardly be disastrous for Spurs as they prepare for a summer of change.
“A new manager is going to come into Tottenham next season if they aren’t in Europe – if they haven’t won the Europa League – and is going to have new ideas”, he told Football Insider.
“Restructured squad aside, I’d look at that as a new manager coming in and say; Romero [and] Van de Ven? Yes, they would be my first choice centre-half partnership.
“You get a big offer in for one of those two [and] you think; ‘okay maybe I can use that in other areas, I can buy a top quality young centre-half, and also use the money to strengthen my squad elsewhere’.
“Romero, I think he’s had a poor season – [if] I’m a new manager coming in and somebody offers me a big offer for Cristian Romero, I’m taking it, and I’m using it to buy another centre half and strengthen the squad elsewhere.
“I wouldn’t be too concerned if anybody left this summer in all honesty.”
Tottenham transfer priorities clear amid Postecoglou uncertainty
Daniel Levy faces the most significant summer of his entire Tottenham tenure following their worst Premier League season since he took charge, with Spurs currently languishing a lowly 16th in the table.
Postecoglou’s cards look marked in North London, but other top-flight sides are already taking steps to prevent their managers being poached with Andoni Iraola likely to sign a new contract at Bournemouth.
Very few players’ futures on Hotspur Way are also secure heading into the summer, and if Tottenham’s next manager has to choose between selling Romero or Van de Ven, expect the former to be the player who departs.