Inter Milan Targets Cristian Romero as Spurs Face Turbulent Summer

Inter Milan have set their sights on Tottenham captain Cristian Romero as they search for a new central defender, with the Serie A champions weighing up a financially demanding move for the Argentina international.

The interest, reported in Italy, drops straight into the middle of an already volatile summer at Spurs. Romero, under contract until 2029, is admired by Inter but would not come cheap, either in fee or wages. Any deal would be complex. Tottenham know his value, but there is a growing expectation inside the market that he could be allowed to leave if a suitably strong offer lands on Daniel Levy’s desk.

Inter’s recruitment team are working through a shortlist for the heart of their defence. Romero is on it. So is John Stones, now a free agent after leaving Manchester City and attracting attention from Arsenal and Chelsea. Inter want authority at the back; both names bring it, in very different styles.

Romero’s situation at Spurs is layered. The 28-year-old missed the end of last season with a knee injury and drew criticism from some supporters when it emerged he was preparing to watch his boyhood club Belgrano face River Plate in the Argentina Primera Division Apertura final, while Tottenham were preparing for a crucial final-day trip to Everton. In the end, he did attend that game at Goodison Park, where Spurs secured their Premier League survival.

Across five seasons in north London, Romero has been a volatile constant: 124 appearances, 12 goals, four red cards in the Premier League. A leader, a risk-taker, and often a lightning rod. If he goes, Tottenham lose their captain and their most aggressive defender in one hit.

Inter eye Spurs again – this time at full-back

The European champions are not only shopping at centre-back. They also want a full-back before the window closes and have been tracking Romero’s club-mate Djed Spence.

That pursuit, though, has cooled. The early push has lost some momentum, but Spence has not dropped off the radar entirely. He remains one of several options, alongside Monaco’s Vanderson and Feyenoord’s Givairo Read, as Inter weigh up price, profile and availability.

De Zerbi wants firepower after record Spurs spend

While Inter circle, Roberto De Zerbi is still building. Tottenham have already torn up their own financial markers this summer, spending £237m on six new signings and reshaping the spine of the team.

• Sandro Tonali arrived from Newcastle for £100m, a club-record deal that underlined the scale of the new project.
• Mateus Fernandes followed for £85m.
• Jan Paul van Hecke for £52m.
• Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka came in on free transfers to add experience and depth.

De Zerbi is not satisfied yet.

“The target now is to complete the attacking positions,” he said, making it clear the front line remains unfinished. He wants elite quality, not stop-gaps. “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.”

He expects more movement before the deadline. “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.”

Attackers are the priority. The squad is being rebuilt at pace, and De Zerbi wants the final pieces to match the ambition of the first wave.

Juventus push on Vicario as Martinez alternative

In goal, another Tottenham pillar could be on the move. Juventus are again considering Guglielmo Vicario as a potential alternative to their top target, Emi Martinez.

The Italian club have already started exploring a deal for Parma’s Zion Suzuki. There is a gap in valuation between the clubs, but not a fatal one at this stage. While those talks continue, Juve intend to revisit Vicario and test what kind of terms might tempt Spurs.

Vicario is expected to leave this summer and has not travelled with Tottenham on their 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. The injury may be small; the decision around his future is anything but.

Bergvall at a crossroads

Midfield prodigy Lucas Bergvall is another live question for De Zerbi and the club hierarchy. The Sweden international is understood to be determined to move on this summer, with Nottingham Forest still in the race and Newcastle having also held talks over figures with Spurs.

Inside Tottenham, the line is that they do not want to sell. Yet there has been no major push to convince the player to stay, and De Zerbi has been consistent on one principle: he only wants players who are fully committed to being at the club.

Asked about Bergvall’s situation and his inclusion in the pre-season squad, 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.”

Competition will be fierce in his position. “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.”

For Bergvall, the choice is stark: fight for minutes in a crowded, ambitious squad or push for a move now while his market is hot.

Kudus closing in on return

Amid the uncertainty, there is at least one clear positive. Mohammed Kudus is edging back towards action after a long lay-off with a muscle problem that has kept him out since early January.

“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.”

His return would inject pace, creativity and goals into a side still learning its manager’s demands. For a coach calling for top-level attackers, getting one of his most dangerous forwards back on the grass matters.

De Zerbi also repeated the update on Vicario and touched on Dejan Kulusevski’s slow road back.

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

Tottenham stand at a delicate point in their rebuild. Inter want their captain. Juventus want their goalkeeper. A gifted midfielder is restless. The manager wants two more forwards and insists only the fully committed will stay.

The money has been spent. The squad is being stripped back and reshaped. The question now is simple: who will still be wearing a Spurs shirt when this new project finally takes shape?