Tottenham Transfer Update: Romero Nears Atleti, Spence to Inter

Cristian Romero’s Tottenham future is hanging by a thread, and Atletico Madrid are ready to cut it. The Argentina defender, linked with a move away all summer and at one point tracked by Arsenal, is now close to joining Atleti, according to transfer reporter Matteo Moretto.

Talks between the Spanish club and Spurs are understood to be at an advanced stage, with only minor details left to iron out between the two sides. The sense around the deal is that it is now about finishing touches rather than major hurdles.

If Romero goes, he will not be the only defender heading for the exit.

Spence becomes Chivu’s priority

Over in Italy, Djed Spence has climbed to the very top of Cristian Chivu’s shopping list at Inter. Corriere report that the English full-back is the new Inter boss’ No. 1 target to replace Denzel Dumfries, who has departed for Real Madrid.

The Italian outlet claim personal terms between Spence and Inter are already in place, and that Spurs and the Serie A side are closing in on an agreement worth around £25million. For a player whose Spurs career never really caught fire, it would be a significant reset and a tidy fee.

Homegrown rules tighten the net

While outgoings gather pace, Tottenham’s room for manoeuvre on incomings is shrinking. The Premier League’s homegrown quota is starting to bite.

Clubs can register a senior squad of up to 25 players, but only 17 of those can be non-homegrown. The rest must be classed as homegrown under league rules. Right now, that leaves Spurs in a tight spot: they can only sign players aged 21 or under without running into registration problems, unless they clear more space by selling.

For a club trying to reshape a squad on the fly, that is a serious constraint.

Bergvall at a crossroads

Lucas Bergvall sits right in the middle of that tension between opportunity and congestion.

The 20-year-old has seen more minutes in pre-season under Roberto De Zerbi, and those inside his camp recognise that the new head coach has backed his praise with actual game time this summer. Even so, his future is not settled.

Earlier in the window, the midfielder’s camp informed Spurs that he wanted a fresh challenge to accelerate his development. As previously reported by football.london, Bergvall had grown frustrated last season by a lack of training time, never mind match minutes, in his preferred role as a number eight.

De Zerbi’s arrival has shifted the mood slightly. The minutes have come, the words have been positive. But the door to a move has not closed.

Osimhen option fades

Up front, one potential marquee solution appears to have slipped away.

Reports earlier this week suggested Spurs had an opening to move for Victor Osimhen this summer, according to TeamTalk. That possibility now looks remote. Soccernet.ng report that the Nigerian striker will remain with his current club beyond the summer window.

Osimhen is under contract with Galatasaray until June 2029 and does not have a release clause. The Super Lig champions are believed to be planning to hand him the No. 9 shirt and build their attack around the 27-year-old. For Tottenham, that door looks firmly shut.

Gakpo blocked unless Spurs go huge

Attention has also turned to the Premier League for attacking reinforcements, with Cody Gakpo on the radar. Landing him, though, would be a different kind of fight.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke, speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast for Football Insider, made it clear that Liverpool have no intention of letting Gakpo go under current conditions.

“As things stand right now, Liverpool do not plan on selling Cody Gakpo despite Tottenham’s interest,” he said. He added that much depends on Liverpool’s own business in the market, with Andoni Iraola unwilling to weaken his squad without significant reinforcements.

The message is blunt: only a huge bid, at least £70million, and fresh arrivals at Anfield would even open the door. With Liverpool’s squad already described as “a bit short”, they “can’t really afford to let Gakpo go”.

De Zerbi’s wishlist and a restless window

Tottenham’s ambitions have not shrunk with the obstacles. Far from it.

Savinho, the Manchester City starlet, is a key target. Liverpool’s Gakpo remains of interest, and City attacker Omar Marmoush is also believed to feature on De Zerbi’s attacking wishlist.

At the same time, the churn continues. Romero, Spence and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario have all been linked with moves away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as the window ticks on.

Another day, another round of calls, proposals and dead ends. Spurs want more signings. The squad needs balance. The rules are tight. The market is wild.

Something has to give before this window slams shut.