Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero is at the centre of a transfer tug-of-war between London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea, with the defender's value plummeting to £25.9m after a fractious end to last season.
The Argentine centre-back, 28, is expected to leave Spurs this summer after clashing with supporters. His decision to fly back to Argentina for medical treatment on a knee injury, skipping the crucial Premier League finale against Everton, sparked fury among fans. Although he returned to witness his teammates secure survival, the damage was done, and Tottenham have since signed Jan Paul van Hecke and Marco Senesi, casting doubt over Romero's future.
“Tottenham captain Cristian Romero wanted by Arsenal and Chelsea as price drops to £25.9m.”
Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport reports that both Mikel Arteta's Arsenal and Xabi Alonso's Chelsea are among the clubs vying for the former Atalanta defender. The Gunners are desperate for centre-back reinforcements after William Saliba underwent back surgery, ruling him out for a significant chunk of the season. Chelsea, meanwhile, are close to signing Crystal Palace's Maxence Lacroix but remain in the market for an additional centre-half, with free agent John Stones also linked to both clubs.
Romero's asking price has dropped sharply from an earlier valuation of around £60.3m, with Mundo Deportivo suggesting Spurs now seek approximately £25.9m. Atletico Madrid and Barcelona have also been linked, while Inter Milan sporting director Piero Ausilio virtually confirmed their interest: "It's definitely a deal we are trying to sign with the player and the club (Tottenham). These things take some time but there's definitely interest."
Tottenham rejected an approach from Atletico last season, but Romero's departure this summer appears inevitable. Inter emerged as early contenders, but the interest from Arsenal and Chelsea adds a dramatic twist to a saga that has already tested Spurs fans' patience.
Across London, Chelsea are also preparing to face Western Sydney Wanderers in a pre-season friendly, with the A-League side featuring a former Premier League star and an ex-wonderkid, according to reports. The fixture adds another layer to a busy summer for the Blues as they reshape their squad under Alonso.