Tottenham are ready to lose their star player this summer, regardless of whether they retain their Premier League status or not, according to the latest reports.
Spurs seek Arsenal’s favor ahead of season-defining clash with Leeds
It’s Monday night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Roberto De Zerbi’s side prepare for their most important home game of the season.
Spurs sit 17th in the table with 37 points, one point ahead of 18th-placed West Ham, and will face Leeds knowing that a win could open up a four-point cushion heading into their remaining two games (against Chelsea and Everton), but both teams are considerably more manageable opponents than the one in front of West Ham.
But Spurs fans’ eyes will be trained on a different stadium long before Monday night’s kickoff.
Arsenal’s game against West Ham on Sunday represented a chance for the Hammers to close the gap on, or even surpass, Spurs, and the result formed the backdrop for Monday’s match.
Tottenham want to sign ‘highly underrated’ Newcastle star, now ‘on the way out’
The Spurs have apparently earmarked him as a summer target.
De Zerbi will be without Cristian Romero, Xavi Simons, Dominic Solanke, Ben Davies, Mohamed Kudus, Guglielmo Vicario and Dejan Kulusevski. This list of casualties means that many of the team’s best qualities have been stripped away at the worst possible time.
Antonin Kinski will continue to guard goal, with the back four of Pero Polo, Kevin Danso, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogi likely to remain intact, with Richarlison leading the line in Solanke’s absence.
Leeds have arrived unbeaten in their last six Premier League games and are not in serious relegation fear, while Spurs have won five of their last six league games, which is somewhat encouraging.
In the midst of a desperate scramble for survival, news has emerged from talkSPORT reporter Ben Jacobs that adds distressing context to Tottenham’s summer plans, regardless of how the coming weeks unfold.
Cristian Romero to leave Tottenham despite remaining
In an interview with GiveMeSport, Jacobs gave a somber assessment of Romero’s future at the club.
“My information about Cristian Romero is that even if Tottenham remain in the Premier League, he will leave, or at least it is likely,” he said.
“It will be a disappointing departure for Tottenham.”
The Argentine has been one of Tottenham’s most important players since joining from Atalanta in 2021, becoming the club’s captain and one of the first names on the team sheet under successive managers.
Romero made 23 appearances in the Premier League, and although his season was prematurely ended by a knee injury in April, he might have been better had he not been suspended.
Although his recovery is progressing, Jacobs suggests the injury hasn’t changed his direction. Regardless of Spurs’ division next season, it looks increasingly likely that he will leave this summer.
The timing is critical.
For a club looking to rebuild under De Zerbi, losing their captain and most influential defender at the same time is a significant setback, despite having the chance to survive a period of slump.
Romero has been heavily linked with a move to Atletico Madrid from 2025, but some of England’s rivals such as Man United could look to take advantage of the World Cup winners’ situation.
But for now, survival must be the priority.
Leeds and West Ham results and the next two games. Everything else waits.
De Zerbi reveals individual interviews with Tottenham’s young players who will play key roles
Spurs are starting to look forward to a positive future under De Zerbi.
