'Desperate' - Tottenham's £42m star could leave club if key ambition can't be fulfilled

Tottenham Hotspur star Cristian Romero is said to be ‘desperate’ to play at the highest level possible after recently being linked with La Liga giants Real Madrid.

Football Insider reported on Monday (16 September) that Spurs are hopeful of tying down the Argentinian with a new contract as his current deal is set to expire in 2027. Now, however, the same publication have indicated that Real Madrid are monitoring Romero closely as they seek to target a new centre-back in the upcoming January transfer window.

Sources have added to the speculation by noting that Romero’s current willingness to sign a new contract with the N17 club relies upon Tottenham’s ‘ambition’, thus opening the door to a potential move to Madrid.

It is said that the 26-year-old World Cup winner hopes to play regularly at the highest level of football, competing for trophies at the top end of the game which is something Spurs are currently unable to do, given they are featuring in the UEFA Europa League this season. Postecoglou did comment recently, however, that he has always won a trophy in his second season with a club and all eyes will be on the Australian head coach to see if this pattern can continue at the top level of English football.

Real Madrid, on the other hand, won their opening UEFA Champions League match with a 3-1 victory over Stuttgart on Tuesday.

Spurs are said to be hopeful of sitting down with the Argentinian next summer in a bid to fend off potential interest from top European clubs but are set to demand a huge fee if they are to part ways with one of their most valuable on-field assets.

He was initially signed for £42.5m in 2022 when he moved to London from Atalanta and, with a World Cup medal now under his belt, it is imagined his stock has only risen. Romero has also gone on to make over 100 appearances for the Lilywhites in his two years but is yet to win a trophy in England.

It is not the first time Spurs have seen Romero linked with a move to Spain with reports first emerging in June. At the time it was unclear whether Real Madrid would be able to fund signing Romero having brought in Kylian Mbappe, but with interest still very much present, it remains to be seen if Los Blancos will find a way to raise the funds ahead of January.