‘Huge fee’ needed to sign ‘fantastic’ Tottenham star Cristian Romero as Real Madrid transfer interest emerges
We’re delighted to welcome former Scotland right-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium…
It would take a “huge fee” to tempt Tottenham Hotspur into selling Cristian Romero during the summer transfer window, according to Alan Hutton amid interest from La Liga.
Tottenham News has exclusively been told by a recruitment source in Spanish football that Real Madrid and Barcelona are monitoring Romero’s situation, with a view to making a move should Postecoglou’s side miss out on Champions League football.
Currently, Spurs sit just outside the top four places, sitting below North London rivals Arsenal after 21 matches, however, that could be enough to book a place in Europe’s premier competition this season.
While Hutton believes the 25-year-old’s poor disciplinary record could put the brakes on a potential move, he also doesn’t believe either Real Madrid or Barcelona will be able to match the fee Daniel Levy will be looking for.
“I think his disciplinary issues will be a concern,” Hutton told Tottenham News.
“That being said, you take that out of his game and he’s not the same player. I think if he can just try and control that a little bit, just try and take out the silly mistakes, the lunges, the big dives all those sorts of things. If he can control that, I think he’s a fantastic football player.
“I think him and Van de Ven next to each other are so solid, they’ve got pace, they can play with the ball so it doesn’t surprise me that people are looking at him.
“Again, I think it would take a huge fee, could any of those teams pay that? I’m not so sure, I know we’re talking about two of the biggest teams in the world but financially, it might still be a problem. Real Madrid look like they can spend but they have Mbappe and all these other guys that they’re looking at.
“So it will be interesting, but Spurs won’t want to lose him. I think he’s a massive part of what they’re doing so they’ll try and hold onto him.”
Romero has been an ever-present when fit and available in Ange Postecoglou’s defence this season, making 16 Premier League appearances and even managing to pop up with three goals at the top end of the pitch.
However, his poor disciplinary record has got him in trouble repeatedly and already this season the Argentine defender has picked up four yellow cards and been sent off once having displayed his short temper at times.
Whether or not one of Europe’s biggest clubs will make a move for him remains to be seen, but it feels almost guaranteed that it would take an enormous fee, as Hutton suggested, to prise him away from North London.
In other Tottenham news, Hutton believes one player will push for a January exit following recent discussions with Daniel Levy
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