“That’s a question I have no idea about.”
Thomas Frank’s reply when asked about Cristian Romero’s future hardly instilled confidence. The Tottenham captain lashed out on Instagram on Monday night. The transfer window had closed and Spurs had signed just Conor Gallagher and Souza. This despite the raft of injuries plaguing the club.
“Disgraceful” was how Romero described the situation, and he has a point. Spurs are down to the bare bones. The club captain had to come off at the break against Manchester City last weekend as he struggled due to illness.
And while Romero put pen to paper on a new Spurs deal last summer, speculation over his future in north London is rife. Atletico Madrid were heavily linked with the 2022 World Cup winner last summer. They’ll fancy their chances of landing the centre-back this time around.
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That said, it’ll take a significant offer to lure Romero away from north London in the summer. That’s if Spurs are even open to the possibility of a sale. Frank may not even be manager at the end of the season.
Even so, we’re preparing for Romero’s exit. To quote Jack Reacher: “Hope for the best, plan for the worst.” With that, we’ve picked out a dream, realistic and wildcard suggestion Spurs could target should the skipper seek a move.
Who should Spurs target to replace Romero?
Dream: Alessandro Bastoni
Cast your thoughts back to the summer of 2022. It was that summer Spurs signed Cristian Romero permanently. Richarlison also moved to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. So, too, did Yves Bissouma and Destiny Udogie. The board sought to assemble a title-challenging squad under Antonio Conte.
One of those linked with a switch was Alessandro Bastoni. The Italian was high on the club’s wishlist as they pursued a left-footed centre-back. The move failed to come to fruition, and eventually took Spurs to Micky van de Ven 12 months later.
Could Bastoni emerge as a serious target for Spurs once more? He isn’t the same aggressive defender as Romero. Indeed, he ranks lower than Romero for a number of off-ball metrics.
However, in possession, Bastoni is a distribution monster. Of course, the numbers are skewed. Inter and Spurs implement different playing styles, which benefit Bastoni on the ball, and Romero out of possession.
Even so, Bastoni is an elite centre-back, and one that would deliver the star power to make up for Romero’s exit. Conversely, this is a pipe dream. If Spurs are signing one Bastoni this summer, it’ll be Cesena left-back Simone, and not Alessandro.
Realistic: Jan Paul van Hecke
Another centre-back that has cropped up on Tottenham’s radar. Jan Paul van Hecke has been a consistent figure in the Brighton defence since his arrival from Heerenveen in 2021. And his performances in a Seagulls shirt haven’t gone unnoticed.
Spurs are reportedly keeping tabs on the Dutchman, who has been a nigh-on ever present for Fabian Hurzeler this season. Again, the 25-year-old is the better distributor, this despite Brighton only seeing marginally more of the ball than Spurs. Given Romero’s importance in their build up play, Van Hecke would theoretically slot in well.
Off-ball actions, Romero dwarfs Van Hecke for tackles per 90, but the latter boasts a better ground duel success rate and averages more clearances per 90. Spurs would have money to spend, even before the potential Romero sale. They’d be able to cover the cost of Van Hecke.
Brighton would be reluctant to lose their prized centre-back. The Netherlands international does have a little over a year to run on his current Brighton contract, however. As painful as the sale may be, it could be their final chance to turn a profit on the Dutch defender.
Wildcard: Marcos Senesi
Could Spurs replace one Argentine centre-back with another? While Marcos Senesi isn’t the big name that supporters crave, the Bournemouth star has quietly excelled on the south coast this season.
Additionally, the 28-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season. The Cherries are desperate to retain his services but Senesi is unwilling to extend his stay at the Vitality Stadium. The former Feyenoord man’s form has caught the eye of Chelsea and Liverpool.
Whether the duo could offer Senesi regular game time, however, is another matter entirely. If Romero goes, then the likelihood is Senesi would immediately step in to bridge the gap. In some ways, it would be a like-for-like replacement. The Bournemouth star boasts that same aggressive streak and looks to instigate attacks from defence.
As part of the Bournemouth leadership group, he’s a leader at the back, and that would be key in Spurs’ potential quest for a Romero successor. One to potentially keep an eye on, even if Spurs do retain their captain’s services.
Squawka Suggests: Luka Vuskovic
In truth, Spurs already have a grasp on their long-term centre-back issues. The north London side agreed to sign Luka Vuskovic in 2023, though he was ineligible to move to Spurs until last summer. Since then, the 18-year-old has spent time with Radomiak Radom and Westerlo. He moved to German side Hamburg on loan last year and has proceeded to light up the Bundesliga.
Some are suggesting that Vuskovic will leave Spurs before he even makes a senior appearance for the club. Bayern Munich are believed to be keeping tabs on Vuskovic, though it would take a monumental offer for the Premier League side to sell, even with their ongoing issues.
Bayern icon Lothar Matthaus has lavished praise upon Vuskovic. Compatriot Ivan Rakitic has urged the teenager to move to the Allianz Arena. The centre-back’s talent is the worst kept secret in football.
Both Spurs and Vuskovic are rapidly approaching a key juncture. The Premier League side could make a huge profit on a player who has never played for them. Conversely, Vuskovic has shown he is more than ready for Premier League football. Even if Spurs don’t sell Romero, the Croat should be brought back to north London this summer with a view to making him a key part of the squad.
