Manchester United have firmly rejected reports that they are preparing a bid for Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero. The Argentine centre-back will not be joining the Red Devils this summer, according to sources close to the club.
Transfer Rumours Dismissed
Reports emerged from Argentina on Monday evening claiming that Manchester United were keen on signing Romero and that an offer was being lined up. However, those claims have been dismissed as wide of the mark, with Romero not featuring on United's summer transfer radar.
Romero's Tottenham Struggles
The 28-year-old has captained Tottenham through two consecutive 17th-place finishes in the Premier League. Spurs faced real relegation danger this season before Roberto De Zerbi guided them to safety. Despite this, Romero could still leave North London, with serious interest from Spain.
Romero missed the closing stages of the campaign due to a knee injury. He had returned to Argentina but was forced to fly back to England to attend Tottenham's final match of the season after considerable public backlash.
The defender has built a troubling disciplinary record at Tottenham, being sent off six times in a Spurs shirt, including a straight red card against United at Old Trafford in February.
United's Transfer Priorities
Manchester United are instead focusing on other areas of the squad. A midfield overhaul is a priority, with a deal already struck to bring Ederson from Atalanta. Reinforcements on the left side are also being sought.
The club's recruitment team is assessing the left-back market. Newcastle's Lewis Hall is admired, though he has three years left on his contract and manager Eddie Howe is determined to keep him.
Defensive Options
United are aware of their defensive shortcomings, but manager Michael Carrick currently has five senior centre-backs: Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Matthijs de Ligt, Leny Yoro, and Ayden Heaven.
Maguire and Martinez remain Carrick's preferred pairing. However, Maguire missed two matches after his red card against Bournemouth in March, while Martinez was sidelined with a calf injury between February and March. Martinez also received a three-match ban for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin's ponytail during Leeds' visit to Old Trafford.
Despite these issues, United are not pursuing Romero and will look to strengthen other positions in the upcoming transfer window.
