Barcelona are reportedly ready to outbid Tottenham Hotspur in pursuit of Cristian Romero, who is valued at around €60 million by Atalanta.
According to Sportitalia, as relayed by Daily Mail, the race to sign Cristian Romero in the summer transfer window is heating up, with Barcelona ready to make their move for the 23-year-old Argentine defender. The Catalan giants are prepared to steal a march on Tottenham Hotspur for Romero, who is valued at around €60 million by Atalanta.
Romero has made quite a splash since joining Atalanta on loan from Juventus last summer. Adjudged to be the best defender in Serie A last term, the 23-year-old has gone from strength to strength during his short stint with La Dea, with his exploits also earning him his big break with the Argentine national side.
His progress, though, has alerted a number of top European clubs, who are ready to launch the offensive for him this summer. To that end, Atalanta are exercising their option to buy Romero for just €18 million before making a quick profit on him, having slapped a €60 million price tag on the player. As things stand, Barcelona and Tottenham are keen on signing him.
The interest from Barcelona is understandable despite already bolstering their defence this summer by signing Eric Garcia. That is because both Samuel Umtiti and Clement Lenglet have reportedly been deemed surplus to requirements, while Gerard Pique is well into the twilight of his career.
Therefore, it is imperative that Barcelona sign a top-class defender, so as to have a long-term core at the back in place before Pique calls it a day, making Romero a viable target. Tottenham, on the other hand, are eyeing Romero as a long-term replacement for Toby Alderweireld, who has joined Al Duhail this summer.
The departure of the long-serving Belgian centre-back has left a massive void in Spurs’ defensive department, especially with Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez often leaving a lot to be desired with their performances. To that end, Romero is certainly someone worth investing in, with Tottenham even agreeing personal terms with him.
Recent reports have also suggested that the Lilywhites have submitted an offer for the 23-year-old, but it appears to be falling short of Atalanta’s €60 million valuation. And now, Barcelona have leapt into action, with the Blaugrana ready to hijack Tottenham’s move for Romero.
As per Sportitalia (h/t Daily Mail), Barcelona are prepared to outbid Tottenham to land Romero, which comes as a surprise, considering their dire financial status. Meanwhile, Atalanta are happy enough to spark a bidding war to maximise the profit they make on the Argentine, and it will be interesting which of the two European bigwigs end up paying €60 million for him.