Cristian Romero Targeted by Inter Milan as Spurs Face Pivotal Summer

Inter Milan have set their sights on Tottenham captain Cristian Romero as they search for a new central defender – but prising him out of north London will be anything but straightforward.

Sky in Italy report that the Serie A champions are seriously exploring a move for the Argentina international, whose contract at Spurs runs until 2029. Any deal is expected to be financially complex, with Romero firmly in his peak years and central to Tottenham’s dressing room hierarchy.

Inter want a centre-back in this window and Romero is high on their list. So is John Stones, now a free agent after leaving Manchester City and attracting interest from Arsenal and Chelsea. It is understood there is a belief within Spurs that Romero could leave if a suitably strong offer lands on the table.

That’s a big “if”. Tottenham know exactly what they have. Romero, 28, has made 124 appearances across five seasons, scoring 12 goals and collecting four red cards in the Premier League. Combustible, aggressive, often walking the disciplinary tightrope – but also a leader and a symbol of the club’s recent rebuild.

The end of last season underlined the tension around him. A knee injury ruled him out of the run-in and he drew sharp criticism from some supporters when he appeared ready to watch his boyhood club Belgrano face River Plate in the Argentina Primera Division Apertura final rather than attend Spurs’ decisive final-day trip to Everton. Romero did ultimately show up for that game, where Tottenham secured their Premier League survival, but the episode left a mark.

Inter, meanwhile, are not only shopping at centre-back. They also want a full-back and have been tracking Romero’s team-mate Djed Spence. That pursuit has cooled, with the move losing momentum in recent weeks, yet Spence remains on their list. So do Monaco’s Vanderson and Feyenoord’s Givairo Read as the Italian champions weigh up their options out wide.

De Zerbi demands firepower after record spend

While Inter weigh the numbers on Romero, Roberto De Zerbi is busy reshaping Tottenham in his own image – and he is not finished.

Spurs have already torn up their transfer records this summer. Around £237m has gone on six new arrivals, headlined by the £100m capture of Sandro Tonali from Newcastle. Mateus Fernandes has arrived for £85m, Jan Paul van Hecke for £52m, while Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka have joined on free transfers.

That’s a major overhaul. De Zerbi still wants more.

“The target now is to complete the attacking positions,” he said. “We want the first target, the first level, because anyway we are already important players, but I think to start the new project we need another couple of important players, for sure.”

The message is clear: the front line is next. De Zerbi spoke of the window as very much alive.

“It’s not finished yet, our transfer market window. We have to finish, we have to bring another couple of, maybe more, maybe not less, but a couple of players.”

For a club that has already committed huge money, the demand for “first level” attackers underlines how aggressively Tottenham intend to back their new head coach – and how ruthless this rebuild could become.

Juventus circle Vicario as keeper market shifts

One of the positions that could change hands is in goal. Juventus are again looking at Guglielmo Vicario as they weigh alternatives to their preferred target, Emi Martinez.

Sky in Italy say Juve have reopened the file on the Spurs goalkeeper while also working on a possible deal for Parma’s Zion Suzuki. There is a gap in valuation there, but not one considered insurmountable, and Juventus want to keep every option open as they seek the best terms.

Vicario is expected to leave Tottenham this summer and has not travelled on the club’s pre-season tour, officially due to a minor injury. De Zerbi played down the issue.

“Vicario is injured, not a big injury, but he needs to stay one week in London,” the Spurs boss said.

Even so, with Juventus hovering and Tottenham already adding Dubravka, the Italian’s future looks increasingly fragile.

Bergvall at a crossroads

Lucas Bergvall is another player whose Spurs story could be brief.

The Sweden midfielder is determined to move on this summer, according to Sky Sports News. Nottingham Forest remain in the race, and Newcastle have also held talks over figures with Tottenham. Inside the club, sources insist they do not want to sell. There has been no concerted attempt, though, to persuade Bergvall to change his mind.

De Zerbi has been blunt about the type of squad he wants: only players who are happy to be at Spurs.

Asked about Bergvall and what his inclusion in the pre-season squad might mean, De Zerbi said: “I have not spoken with Lucas yet. I will in the next days and we will make the best decision for the club, for Lucas, for me, for every one of us. Without problems, Lucas is a big, big talent.

“There will be a big competition to play because at the end, I think we will be two players for each position. If he wants to stay, I will be happy. Otherwise, we have to find a new solution with Johan Lange, with Vinai. It’s not my business after the decision to leave.”

The tone is calm, the stance uncompromising. Stay and fight, or go with the club’s blessing – but go on their terms.

Kudus on the brink of return

Amid the swirl of transfer talk and contract intrigue, De Zerbi did offer some welcome football news. Mohammed Kudus is close.

The winger has been out since early January with a muscle problem, robbing Spurs of one of their most dynamic attacking options.

“Kudus is very close,” De Zerbi said. “I think when we come back to London he will be available to start working with us. It’s a great thing for us. Kudus is another important player.”

He also reiterated the situation with Vicario and provided a cautious note on Dejan Kulusevski.

“Vicario is injured, not a big injury, but he needs to stay one week in London,” he said. “Kulusevski, we have to see in the next couple of weeks. He’s another important player. After one season, one complete season, without a game, we have to analyse better and better, don’t take risks, first of all for him and then for us.”

A captain wanted by Inter, a goalkeeper courted by Juventus, a prodigy weighing his exit, a coach demanding elite attackers on top of a record spend. Tottenham’s summer is not just busy; it is pivotal.

The only question now is who still walks out at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when De Zerbi’s “new project” finally takes shape.