Tottenham open Cristian Romero contract talks amid Real Madrid interest

Tottenham Hotspur are looking to secure a new contract with Cristian Romero "before Christmas", according to TBR Football.

The report on Friday morning [13 September] shared that Spurs are willing to offer the Argentine World Cup winner a "significant pay rise", extending a deal which already still has three years left to run.

Romero recently made his 100th appearance for the club in the 4-0 win over Everton and the club are keen to act before the turn of the year due to summer interest from Real Madrid [Evening Standard, 13 June].

Tottenham looking to tie down Cristian Romero

When you look at the Tottenham defence down the years, it has been sketchy at best, and nowhere near good enough at worst.

Romero, together with Micky van de Ven, has changed the 2000s perception of Spurs constantly leaking sloppy goals - albeit with Ange Postecoglou's attacking shape and high line there will always remain that risk - and they contribute their fair share going forward, too.

In Spurs' quest for a trophy, it is imperative the dressing room can boast winners, and that is exactly what Romero has, both in terms of mentality and his triumphs with the national side.

An unlikeable presence for opposing players and fans alike, Romero is precisely the kind of ruthless figure Postecoglou needs in his squad to achieve his "second season trophy" claim in North London.

Interest from elites such as Real Madrid does not come for fun, and demonstrates how key the 26-year-old, while sometimes erratic and brazen, really is to the Tottenham backline.

In other Tottenham news, John Wenham describes the North London derby as "must-win".

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