Spurs in contract talks with new Cristian Romero, “world’s best central defender”

Tottenham Hotspur are preparing for life under Igor Tudor, with his time in the dugout starting this weekend in the Premier League against Arsenal.

A win over Spurs’ north London rivals would be a way to endear them to the fanbase from the get-go, but it also talks about being thrown into the deep end.

Tottenham supporters are in need of a boost after Thomas Frank’s tenure has dragged them into a relegation battle. It’s an obvious truth, but there’s more than enough quality

Tudor have a number of issues to improve over the coming months, but one of the most notable is their shaky backline, which could see them lose captain Cristian Romero at the end of the season.

Spurs aim to replace Romero

Tottenham have their problems and Romero has not been perfect in his performances this season, but there is no doubt that his departure will weaken the north London side.

Micky van de Van gets a lot of praise, but at the moment 27-year-old Romero is the better centre-back, albeit with a zest that gets him into trouble at times.

However, the Argentine’s recent criticism of the board and his red card in the defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford have led to growing noise over his future, with talkSPORT’s Tony Cascarino lamenting his “terrible attitude”.

If Romero really doesn’t want to play in the N17 beyond this season, the Spurs will need to make sure they have a top-notch replacement.

And according to Caught Offside, a move is being considered for controversial former Chelsea star Antonio Rudiger, with the Real Madrid defender being mooted to return to the Premier League when his contract expires this summer.

As well as the Lilywhites, Crystal Palace and West Ham United have also begun talks with the 32-year-old’s representatives, and while a move for Stamford Bridge’s biggest star of our time may seem questionable, one need only look back to last month, when Conor Gallagher returned to London from Madrid, to see that is not the case.

What Rudiger brings to Spurs

Rudiger may not be in the prime of his career anymore, but his aggressiveness and sharpness in defensive situations would certainly prove him to be Romero’s perfect successor when considering how to balance van de Ven’s qualities with his own.

The Germany international is one of the most decorated centre-halves of his generation, having won numerous awards with Chelsea in England and then again with Real Madrid after signing for Los Blancos in 2022. Former national teammate Mesut Ozil has previously described him as “the best defender in the world”.

In La Liga this season, for example, he has only started seven games, but has won 63% of his duels and recovered the ball an average of seven times every two games, underscoring his natural athleticism.

Like Romero, Rudiger is a defender who transcends his role. He has a wealth of technical skills and intuition, which makes him a useful tool in many fields.

However, he has also received seven red cards in his career, and in 2025 he was sent off for firing an object at the referee during the Copa del Rey final, which Real Madrid lost to Barcelona.

Rudiger will add plenty of positivity to Spurs’ backline, shore up a shaky defence, and instill leadership, but he also risks becoming another version of the highly talented Romero, hampered by his own recklessness.

Like Rudiger, Romero is one of the most talented defenders in the world, and like Rudiger, Romero has a kind of reckless personality, an inner fire that can ignite the more admired aspects of his game.

The Argentina international looks likely to be sidelined this summer, but this could be a move to put the Londoner back in the ascendancy by pairing Van de Ven with an established Madrista.