Cristian Romero could be sold by Tottenham. (Image: Getty)
Tottenham are reportedly prepared to sell all but nine players as they plan to transform their squad over the next three years. Spurs are in the middle of a relegation battle but know they need to raise money to fight at the top of the table again and will make tough decisions to get there.
Club captain Cristian Romero, who has been active in the Spurs hierarchy this season, could be at the forefront of the departure. The Argentine will have no shortage of fans, including Atlético Madrid, the team he could face in the Champions League after serving a four-match domestic suspension.
The Telegraph claimed Spurs are intent on signing Romero and could be looking at the match against Diego Simeone’s side as a potential audition for the defender.
He was worth more than £60m a year ago before signing a new contract and being handed the armband, but it could be just one of many sales to fund a summer overhaul.
Romero could also be joined by Pedro Polo and Guglielmo Vicario, both of whom have been linked with departures amid public dissatisfaction from fans.
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As evidenced by the acquisition of Liverpool vice-captain Andy Robertson in January, it is expected that more attention will be focused on the leadership of new players.
And this is the reality of their situation, with only nine players considered ideal candidates to stay for next season.
Mickey van de Ven, Dominic Solanke, Conor Gallagher, Mohamed Kudus, Xavi Simmons, Archie Gray, Lukas Bergvall, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski.
Van de Ven could even be tempted to move away, with Liverpool also on the list.
Spurs’ problems will intensify if they drop into the Championship, currently in 16th place and just one point above the relegation zone.
Polo and Vicario are also on the verge of being sold. (Image: Getty)
In January, CEO Vinay Venkatesham admitted the team had been “inadequate” this season and was not exempt from financial rules, potentially precipitating a summer sell-off.
“We believe in our current squad, but we must add additional quality, experience and leadership to consistently compete at the highest level,” the coach said in a lengthy statement. “This requires a more proactive approach to recruitment, along with a pay structure that supports our goals.
“We are fully committed to strengthening our team in January when the right opportunities exist, but we recognize that the most important player trade activity usually takes place in the summer. Our priority is to make a deal that truly moves us forward and we will be disciplined towards that objective.”
“Trading players is also about knowing when to sell and being decisive in moving players who are not relevant to our future. Doing so is essential to maximizing value and managing Financial Fair Play obligations. Despite popular belief, we are not exempt from these rules and must carefully manage our team’s development plans in light of it.”
