Inter Milan are continuing their chase for Cristian Romero after agreeing to sign John Stones, with Tottenham talks taking a major step forward.
Interest from Inter has been building throughout the summer as the Serie A giants search for experienced defenders capable of leading their back line into a new era.
The Nerazzurri have spent what seems like weeks working behind the scenes to understand both Tottenham’s valuation and Romero’s own willingness to return to Italian football.
Those discussions have gradually intensified, with Inter identifying the Argentine as the ideal successor to some of the senior defenders expected to leave San Siro over the coming months.
Tottenham have never actively pushed their captain towards the exit, but their signings of Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi suggest they were always planning for it.
The 28-year-old’s mixed 25/26 saw him criticised for his recklessness at times, and reports have frequently suggested that Romero is certain to leave N17 this summer in search of a new challenge, regardless of Roberto De Zerbi’s promising new era.
Romero did enjoy a productive World Cup, where he demonstrated why he remains one of Argentina’s most trusted defenders, and those performances explain why Europe’s biggest clubs continue to admire him.
Barcelona are also believed to be admirers of his, with Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid also linked in the past, but it is Inter who are in pole position right now and doing the work to make a deal happen.
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Football FanCast’s Verdict |
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Credibility |
This update comes via Gianluigi Longari, one of Italy’s best-connected transfer journalists who regularly reports on Serie A deals involving the country’s biggest clubs. His information is also particularly strong regarding Inter and AC Milan. |
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Finances |
Tottenham and Inter have agreed the basis of a deal, although personal terms still require negotiations. Barcelona remain interested but would first need to complete a significant sale, while his near-£200,000-per-week wages could be a real obstacle for Italian sides. |
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Insight |
At his best, Romero is widely regarded as one of Europe’s elite centre-backs thanks to his aggressive front-foot defending, aerial dominance and composure in possession. |
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Impact |
Losing Romero would remove one of Tottenham’s defensive leaders and one of Spurs’ previously most important players, but the arrivals of van Hecke and Senesi have softened the blow significantly. |
His previous success in Serie A with Atalanta also removes any concerns that he’d need a settling-in period, while there are claims that Inter have already made a £34m loan to buy offer for Romero.
Tottenham take major step forward in Cristian Romero sale to Inter Milan
According to Italian journalist Gianluigi Longari, negotiations have now advanced significantly.
Longari reports Inter have reached the ‘basis of agreement’ with Tottenham over a transfer fee worth close to £34 million, echoing previous reports of those figures being discussed right now.
Meanwhile, talks are continuing with Romero’s representatives regarding personal terms, although a full agreement on wages has not yet been reached.
Longari adds that Barça remain in the defender’s thoughts, but the Spanish champions would first need to seal an important outgoing before they could realistically enter the race.
For Tottenham, the negotiations present an important decision.
Replacing a defender of Romero’s calibre and influence in the dressing room won’t be easy, but De Zerbi now has a fresh injection of new centre-backs to prepare for life without the South American.
From Inter’s perspective, the attraction is obvious.
Few defenders currently available combine Premier League experience, international pedigree and previous Serie A success in the way Romero does.
His arrival would immediately raise expectations as Inter attempt to challenge for both the Scudetto and the Champions League once again.
Should Inter reach an agreement with Romero’s camp, one of the summer’s longest-running transfer stories could finally move towards its conclusion.
