Mikel-Arteta-Press-Conference
The Cristian Romero saga is heating up, and Arsenal are apparently determined not to be spectators.
Reports out of Spain, Italy and Argentina all point the same way: the Gunners want in on the race for Tottenham’s Argentine centre-back, even if they’re currently trailing the pack.
Where things stand in Cristian Romero transfer saga
Inter Milan have already got a fee sorted with Spurs, reportedly around €40m, but personal terms with Romero himself haven’t been nailed down. That gap has left the door open, and Atlético Madrid have barged through it. Diego Simeone’s side had an early €30m bid knocked back but are said to be closing in on Tottenham’s asking price, while also dangling a hefty net salary in front of the player to get the move over the line.
Argentine journalist Gastón Edul, who’s well connected in Romero’s camp, has been the one flagging Arsenal’s involvement describing their interest as genuine rather than paper talk. But by his own read, Atlético are still the ones driving hardest.
On the Italian side, respected reporter Alfredo Pedullà has poured cold water on one angle doing the rounds that Lautaro Martínez personally rang Romero to sell him on Inter while confirming that Arsenal, Atlético and Barcelona are all genuinely competing for him. Pedullà’s take is that Mikel Arteta is actively pushing behind the scenes, though there’s an acknowledgment that Arsenal’s relationship with Tottenham has been icy for years and would need mending as part of any deal.
Adding another wrinkle: Barcelona’s Ronald Araújo looks increasingly likely to join Liverpool, which would free up funds and a squad slot for Barça to jump into the Romero race too, as if it wasn’t crowded enough already.
Could Arsenal actually get it done?
Spanish outlet El Desmarque reports Arsenal have already made contact with Romero’s representatives, but Tottenham are point-blank refusing to sell to a direct rival. The workaround? Romero’s release clause, said to sit at £55m (€64.2m) for Premier League clubs and Arsenal are reportedly readying an offer built around triggering exactly that.
Romero was a key figure for Spurs last season despite having an underwhelming campaign from his standards, 23 appearances, 22 starts, four goals and an assist in just over 1,870 minutes, so this won’t be a cut-price raid whichever route Arsenal take. But if the clause is the only door that’s actually open, don’t be surprised if that’s the one they knock on.