Atalanta have rejected an opening bid from Tottenham Hotspur for 23-year-old center-back Cristian Romero.
Spurs want to rejuvenate at the back as Toby Alderweireld prepares to seal an exit for Al-Duhail, and after failing a move for Sevilla’s Jules Kounde, the focus has turned to Romero and talks are well underway between the two sides.
Spurs aim for Romero / Jonathan Moscrop / Getty Images
It was recently claimed that Spurs had made an opening offer for Romero worth € 40 million (€ 34.1 million) plus € 10 million (€ 8.5 million) in addition, and this has been backed by La Gazzetta dello Sport , which goes a little further and indicate that the bid has been rejected.
Atalanta are open to selling the defender but would only do so for a big offer. It is understood that they are looking for almost 55 million euros (47 million pounds), but the biggest problem for Spurs is that Atalanta want all the money paid in advance.
There is obviously not much between the two sides’ valuations of Romero, but with Atalanta insisting on full payment in advance, Spurs can struggle to meet the Italian side’s demands.
It seems that Spurs only have around 30 million pounds to offer a new defender this summer. They presented that figure to Sevilla in exchange for Kounde but had to subsidize their bid by offering Davinson Sanchez in exchange – just to not convince the Frenchman to join in any case.
Spurs’ next move here is not clear. They are planned to raise another 13 million pounds by selling Alderweireld and extra funds can also be raised by selling Sanchez, Lucas Moura or Serge Aurier, but whether that money can be reinvested in the squad is unknown.
Chairman Daniel Levy is not exactly known for throwing around that kind of money, so there is a chance he could withdraw from the talks about Romero and instead strive for a cheaper alternative elsewhere.
Levy may choose to look elsewhere / Visionhaus / Getty Images
There have been many names linked to a move to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium; In addition to Kounde, Spurs are also interested in Inter Milan Skriniar, Fiorentina’s Nikola Milenkovic and Wolfsburg’s Maxence Lacroix.
Spurs have also been tipped to move to Lyons’ Joachim Andersen, but the Dane is expected to choose Crystal Palace as his next club.
