Tottenham Hotspur have shelved new contract talks with a star player in their squad, and he's now seriously pursuing an exit from the north London club this summer, which could be seen as a concern for chairman Daniel Levy.
Ange Postecoglou facing potential Tottenham sack
As things stand, real uncertainty surrounds the long-term future of Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou, following a disappointing second full campaign in charge.
Debilitating injuries haven't helped the Australian, but 14th in the Premier League after 15 defeats in the top flight alone makes for very grim reading from the perspective of a 'big six' club.
Postecoglou is now relying on an impressive Europa League run to convince Tottenham not to change managers, according to reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano, and Spurs are already expressing a serious interest in Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, among other high-profile alternatives like Inter Milan's Simone Inzaghi and Fulham's Marco Silva.
These next few weeks will be key in determining Postecoglou's position at N17, and even if the 59-year-old does manage to make history in Europe and keep his job, the former Celtic boss is facing a very real prospect of losing key players this summer.
One of them, according to various reports in the last few days, could be star defender Cristian Romero.
The Argentine is wanted by Atlético Madrid, with South American media claiming that Diego Simeone has personally reached out to him (Uriel Lugt). Their arch rivals Real Madrid have also internally discussed a move for Romero, so it appears the 26-year-old has plenty of temptation away from N17.
Losing Romero would be a blow for Postecoglou and Levy, considering his status as a senior leader in the squad, and it now appears that the defender has fully made up his mind on quitting Spurs.
Cristian Romero "pushing" to leave Tottenham with contract talks cancelled
According to The Boot Room and journalist Graeme Bailey, Romero is "pushing" to leave Tottenham, and Levy has postponed talks over a new deal for the £165,000-per-week ace as a result.
The player has apparently made it clear to his circle that he's ready to pursue a new challenge, and he's set his sights on a move to La Liga specifically. Simeone really wants him at Atletico, as he views Romero as one of world football's best centre-backs, but Levy won't let him go cheaply.
The former Atalanta star's price tag is set at around £60 million, and this could prove to be the main obstacle in place of an Atlético deal for the player. It is also worth noting that Romero is determined to leave regardless of whether Spurs win the Europa League and qualify for next season's Champions League, so his eagerness to go may even force through a move.
One thing is certain - Tottenham would need to bring an adept replacement for the stalwart who's been praised for his overall performances since joining in 2021.
"In Romero they have got a phenomenal defender. He makes others around him better," said former Spurs keeper Paul Robinson to Football Insider three years ago.
“What they have got isn’t enough. They need more but he is certainly the best that they have got. He could play in any side in the top four of the Premier League. He is a Champions League player, a top player.
“If Spurs are going to go places Romero is the type of player they will need to keep and build around.”