Transfer Centre

Tottenham Hotspur defender "not thinking" about summer transfer

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 30 May 2024

Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Cristian Romero insists that he is not giving any thought to leaving the Lilywhites during the summer transfer window.

One of Tottenham Hotspur's defensive stalwarts has insisted that he is giving no thought to the possibility of leaving the Lilywhites during the summer transfer window.

Since initially joining on loan from Atalanta BC in the summer of 2021, Cristian Romero has seamlessly slotted into the Spurs backline and has now made 98 appearances for the North London giants in all tournaments.

After achieving World Cup glory with Argentina in 2022, a productive 2023-24 Premier League season saw the ex-Juventus defender score five goals in 33 appearances and even sport the captain's armband a few times.

Romero continued to be criticised for his rash defending, but his partnership with Micky van de Ven was crucial to Spurs' top-four push, even if it ultimately ended in failure.

By virtue of finishing fifth in the table, Ange Postecoglou's men will be playing Europa League football next season, and the Spurs head coach even hit out at the "fragile" nature of his side as their Champions League bid crumbled towards the end of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur's Cristian Romero pictured in December 2023 © Reuters

Romero cools transfer talk as offers 'analysed'

Romero has since jetted off to link up with the Argentina squad for the 2024 Copa America, and speaking to DSports' Como Te Va - as quoted by Ole - the defender opened up on his club situation.

Despite revealing that offers have been 'analysed', the 26-year-old insisted that he is giving no thought to the possibility of leaving Tottenham and simply wants to focus on his summer exploits with Argentina.

"The truth is that I'm fine. For now I'm not thinking about that [a transfer], I'm thinking about preparing myself these days to get to the national team in the best way possible, which is the next step I have," Romero said.

"The things that come up at the moment are obviously always analysed but I'm not thinking about the future, I'm thinking about the national team. Now that I have the Copa America, I will always try to take the national team to the top and then we will see what happens.

"I'm very happy to be in this present, even though group achievements haven't been the best or we didn't expect to end like this, but also, at the group level for the coach's first year, he has been good in all lines. We have to keep wanting more. Individually, I'm very happy for this beautiful season that I've had."

Which defenders could leave Tottenham this summer?

Tottenham Hotspur's Emerson Royal in action with AFC Bournemouth's Justin Kluivert on January 21, 2024 © Reuters

Romero leaving Tottenham was never on the cards for the summer window anyway, but a host of other Spurs defenders are surplus to requirements under Postecoglou and may have played their last games for the club.

Among the unwanted troupe are full-backs Emerson Royal, who now plays second fiddle to Pedro Porro on the right-hand side of the backline, and Sergio Reguilon, now back from his loan spell at Brentford.

Djed Spence - who spent 2023-24 on loan with Genoa and Leeds United - is not in Postecoglou's plans either, and nor are central duo Joe Rodon or Japhet Tanganga, who both plied their trade in the Championship last term too.

Rodon's future is currently shrouded in uncertainty, but a deal to make Tanganga's Millwall stay permanent is understood to be agreed and now just awaiting official confirmation from both sides.