Manchester United are reportedly weighing up a shock move for Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero, who is keen to leave the north London club this summer following another disappointing Premier League campaign.
Romero's turbulent season at Spurs
The Argentine defender has been a key figure for Tottenham since joining, but the club's struggles have been evident. After winning the Europa League just over a year ago under Ange Postecoglou, the Australian was sacked following a 17th-place finish. His replacement, Thomas Frank, lasted only six months, and interim manager Igor Tudor endured a miserable seven-game spell that saw Tottenham crash out of the Champions League and plunge into a relegation battle.
Roberto De Zerbi eventually took over and masterminded the club's recovery, securing top-flight status with a final-day win over Everton. However, Romero missed the run-in due to a knee injury suffered in De Zerbi's first match in charge. With no European football on offer next season, the 28-year-old is angling for a move away.
Interest from Spain and now Manchester United
Initially, a move to Spain seemed most likely, with both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid linked to the former Atalanta centre-half. However, according to Argentine football expert Gaston Edul, Manchester United are now considering a bid for Romero, whose aggressive style has resulted in five red cards during his four-year spell in England.
United are expected to invest heavily this summer to equip manager Michael Carrick with a squad capable of competing on multiple fronts. Early exits in both domestic cup competitions last season limited United to just 40 games, but Champions League qualification means the squad needs significant reinforcement.
United's defensive options
Carrick's predecessors spent heavily on defenders such as Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez, and Leny Yoro, but all three have impressed only sporadically, with injuries derailing the careers of the Netherlands and Argentina internationals. Former Arsenal defender Ayden Heaven has proven to be a bargain at £1 million, while Harry Maguire has committed his future to the club by signing a new contract.
Further defensive additions are expected, but it remains to be seen whether United will enter the race for Romero, whose attitude was questioned by Gary Neville last month. Romero had initially planned to remain in Argentina for further treatment on his knee injury rather than return to London to support his teammates in their relegation battle, before making a late U-turn.
Neville said: 'It's another something Tottenham fans can look at and think there's another disconnect. They are coming here today to support their team and the captain or the club is considering not being here for the last game of the season. Bad decision. Poor choice. What are you thinking? Did you not think he'd been spotted back in Argentina? Did you not think he'd be seen as missing in action? It's symptomatic of poor decision making.'
