Tottenham face transfer battle as Real Madrid 'target Cristian Romero deal'

Tottenham could face a fight to keep Cristian Romero this summer, with reports in his native Argentina claiming that Real Madrid are interested in a move for the centre-back.

Real are seeking defensive reinforcements and it is claimed that the Champions League winners have identified Romero as a transfer target.

Spurs do not want to lose Romero and would demand a huge fee for a player they signed for £42.5million in 2021 and who still has three years left to run on his current contract.

It remains to be seen whether Real could fund a big-money move for a centre-back in the same summer they have splashed out on Kylian Mbappe, and with funds set aside to sign Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies.

Romero has become a key player for Spurs and is vital to the way they play under Ange Postecoglou, who appointed him as one of his vice-captains last summer and has said is vital to his plans.

The 26-year-old has formed a good partnership with Micky van de Ven at centre-back and was one of the most consistent performers at Spurs this season.

In April, Postecoglou called on the rest of his squad to be like Romero when he said: “He's a World Cup winner and I've just got to get some of what's in him into some of the others.”