Atletico Madrid prepare improved bid for Tottenham defender Cristian Romero
Atletico Madrid are preparing a second official bid for Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero after seeing an initial offer rejected.
The Spanish side are keen to secure the Argentine international after their opening proposal of €30m (£25.6m) plus €5m in add-ons was turned down by the Premier League club.
Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano reports that the 26-year-old has already given the green light to a contract proposal from the La Liga giants.
Financial agreement remains key obstacle
Negotiations must now focus on finalising a transfer fee, alongside agreeing the length of the contract and the player’s salary.
Romano stated on his YouTube channel that a secondary bid is imminent as the Madrid outfit look to secure their primary defensive target.
“They sent a contract proposal to Cuti Romero, who gave the green light to the move. Now it’s time for a financial agreement, length of the contract, salary and all the rest.”Fabrizio Romano
Romano also clarified that Barcelona are not pursuing the World Cup-winning centre-back, describing their absence from the race as a definitive club decision.
Spurs reshaping squad under De Zerbi
A departure for the combative South American appears increasingly likely as Tottenham look to balance their books following a period of significant recruitment.
Manager Roberto De Zerbi has overseen heavy investment to help propel the North London outfit back into European contention after back-to-back bottom-half finishes.
The club have already moved to bolster their defensive ranks, effectively bringing in Jan Paul van Hecke to fill the void left by the outgoing Argentine.
Former head coach Thomas Frank previously praised the departing defender’s commanding presence both on and off the pitch.
“He leads from his behaviour on the pitch, driving the team forward in every way, and outside the pitch he’s always pushing the team.”Thomas Frank
Consistent defensive statistics
Despite persistent speculation regarding his future, the former Atalanta man remained a statistical standout in the English top flight last term.
- Appearances: 23
- Clearances: 4.1 per game
- Tackles: 2.5 per game
- Interceptions: 1.3 per game
- Blocks: 0.6 per game
Spurs will now look to Micky van de Ven and their new arrivals to replicate the aggressive leadership style of their departing defensive figure.