Frank has already won gold with Spurs’ ‘Monster’

The January transfer window was a relatively busy one for Tottenham Hotspur. Eight Premier League teams did not welcome new players at all, but fan bases remain bitter after recent events.

Thomas Frank remains in charge despite a leadership review in January, but the Danish manager is unpopular with supporters after months of poor football with just two wins in 15 league games.

As if this is not enough, winning the Champions League is not only their only chance for silver, but also leaves Spurs with a glimmer of hope of playing on the continent next year if they don’t overcome their Premier League slump.

However, problems abound for the ENIC group, with club captain Cristian Romero showing rebellious tendencies of late.

Latest information on Romero’s future with Spurs

The 27-year-old Romero is one of the best centre-backs in the world, but there is no doubt that he has been a consistently high-performing defender and has barely featured for some time.

He says Spurs’ recruitment strategy leaves much to be desired and is in fact at the heart of their decline over recent years.

Of course, this is hypothetical, but if given the chance to reflect on his career path and change direction, it’s entirely possible that the Argentine would choose not to sign for Spurs. There is no doubt that he loves the club, but he has been at the center of many turmoil in the past and there is no doubt that he is unhappy with the ownership.

Defensively, the Spurs have been a mess over the last two years. However, Romero remains one of the most talented centre-backs in the world and a leader capable of playing in any elite team across the continent.

While the fanbase’s fears that he will push through with a move this summer will not be allayed by this latest statement, Tottenham will at least take solace in the fact that his contract runs until 2029, so any suitor would have to pay a significant amount.

While he is one of North London’s most valuable players, there is actually an even more valuable asset at the Lilywhites who could ease the club’s disappointment if Romero were to leave.

Spurs star deserves more than Cristian Romero

There have been rumors of a transfer for Romero, especially with reports suggesting that the Spanish team is gearing up for a summer signing. How much would Tottenham put aside for their captain? It’s impossible to say at this stage, but recent rumors revealing interest from Barcelona suggest the bid would be around £80 million.

Losing Romero would be a blow, but at least they still have Micky van de Ven in the flank, with the Dutch defender arguably boasting even greater stock than the captain next to him.

Van de Ven is no untouchable himself, and his strong, athletic performances in defense attracted interest from the likes of Liverpool, who lost out to Wolfsburg in the talent race in 2023, and Tottenham snapped up the player for a fee of £43 million.

But even the ENIC group certainly won’t be able to land both Van de Ven and Romero in one spot. These are the two pillars of a struggling Spurs team, and the last bulwark against what could be an insignificant decline.

That means Tottenham’s centre-halves are their two best players. Indeed, Van de Ven and Romero are the most influential, unique and fearsome defenders as well as players who add dimension to the attack. Van de Ven has been hailed as a “monster” by football writer Elliott Jackson for his speed and power when carrying the ball forward.

And this is a Tottenham team that lacks creativity, lacks confidence and leaves a lot to be desired in the final third.

Although Frank’s side have not been able to establish a strong form, Romero and Van de Ven have continued to put in impressive performances, which is reflected in their metrics throughout the campaign.

Both teams have scored eight goals, accounting for around 23% of Tottenham’s goals in the Premier League this year.

Romero may have the edge over the Dutchman in terms of statistics, but 24-year-old Van de Ven has higher stock. Liverpool are once again in the market for this unique talent, but signing him won’t come cheap.

In fact, Tottenham are likely to demand a staggering world record transfer fee of £100m for Van de Ven.

To put it a bit plainly, it seems unlikely that Spurs will play football next season with Van de Ven and Romero as the central partnership.

But Van de Ven is definitely better, more talented and has a higher ceiling. The Spurs cannot afford to let a key defensive player leave.