Spanish side Atletico Madrid have made their ‘first formal offer’ for Tottenham centre-back Cristian Romero, according to reports.
Spurs are having an awful season in the Premier League with Ange Postecoglou’s side currently 16th in the table after losing 19 of their 34 matches this term.
Tottenham have lost their last three Premier League matches and conceded 11 goals in the process with Postecoglou’s men winning one game in their last eight.
Postecoglou has been linked with the sack for most of the season but there was apparently some sympathy from the Tottenham hierarchy with the Australian overseeing an injury crisis at one point.
However, with most players returning, the Spurs boss is now under intense pressure after their 5-1 capitulation on Sunday and now Tottenham could lose some of their best players in the summer.
Spurs can boost their chances of keeping their top players if they can win the Europa League, where they play Bodo/Glimt in the semi-finals, which will give them a spot in next season’s Champions League.
And Atletico Madrid are trying to tempt Tottenham into selling Romero with Spanish website Fichajes insisting that the La Liga side have made their ‘first formal offer’ for the Argentina international.
It is understood that Atletico are trying to ‘close the signing’ of Romero after ‘preparing its first super offer’ of €50m (£43m) and they are ‘moving decisively in the transfer market’.
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Atletico, who are looking to strengthen the centre of their defence, are ‘aware that competition will be tough and that the player himself is very open to a change of scenery heading to La Liga’.
But Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy ‘asks for more money’ and the report adds:
‘Diego Simeone’s team needs to restructure its defense in light of the imminent departures of Axel Witsel and Cesar Azpilicueta, and the likely departure of Clement Lenglet, who will have to return to Barcelona at the end of his loan. Atleti currently only have Jose Maria Gimenez and Robin Le Normand, making it urgent to bring in a top-tier center-back.
‘Romero, one of Spurs’ pillars, has a current contract, but his desire to try his luck in the Spanish league could facilitate negotiations. Although Tottenham is demanding around €70 million to let him leave, those at the Metropolitano are confident that the player’s willingness could be key to lowering the English club’s financial demands.
‘Atletico Madrid also wants to accelerate negotiations to sign the Argentine defender ahead of the Club World Cup, which will be held this summer. The Madrid club hopes to complete the signing during the first few days of the transfer window, aware that they will have to act quickly if they don’t want other European clubs to join the bidding.’