Spurs captain Cristian Romero targeted by two shock Premier League clubs as cut-price move planned

Tottenham Hotspur have been making significant moves in the transfer market this summer as they look to give Roberto De Zerbi the tools to return the club to the upper end of the Premier League and fight for European football.

The Italian manager managed to maintain Spurs’ top-flight status on the final day of last season, managing to finish 17th after being involved in a relegation battle with West Ham for the final weeks of the campaign.

Since they narrowly avoided relegation, they have brought in Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Martin Dubravka, Mateus Fernandes, and Sandro Tonali to ensure they are not in that situation again this campaign.

Two of the signings, Van Hecke and Senesi, are centre backs which may put Spurs in a position to allow their captain, Cristian Romero, to leave White Hart Lane; however, they could not have envisaged that he may depart for potentially one of their major rivals.

Cristian Romero

Reports from Italy are suggesting Arsenal and Chelsea are considering a shock move for the Argentina international.

Inter Milan had been linked to the club previously, with Spurs thought to be asking for €50 million (£42m).

It is believed Inter would be keen on a loan with an obligation to buy deal, similar to the one that took Manuel Akanji to Italy from Manchester City last year, hoping to pay €25 million for his services, half of what Spurs are currently asking.

Corriere dello Sport reports that Romero would be open to a return to Italy after departing Atalanta four years ago to join Spurs, with Inter being the preferred destination.

However, the report has also suggested Arsenal and Chelsea could provide the biggest risk to the Serie A champions sealing the signing of the Spurs captain.

While a move across London being greenlit by Spurs to either of these rivals would seem strange, it would be a surprise if Chelsea were to add Romero to the squad as they are on the brink of signing Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace.

Arsenal, on the other hand, need a centre back as William Saliba is set to miss the start of the season due to a back problem, and so they may be in the market to cover this absence.

Whether Spurs would even contemplate selling their captain and one of their top performers to their north London rivals, though, is an entirely different matter.