Tottenham Hotspur reportedly intend to sit down and hold talks with Cristian Romero over a new contract following his admission that he would "love" to play in La Liga one day.
The World Cup winner has been unable to prevent Spurs' dramatic decline under Ange Postecoglou, which has left the Lilywhites in an embarrassing 16th place in the Premier League table.
However, Spurs' season could still be salvaged with Europa League success, as they prepare to meet Bodo/Glimt in the semi-finals before a possible date with Athletic Bilbao or Manchester United with the trophy on the line.
Winning Europe's secondary competition would earn Spurs a ticket to the Champions League, but failure to triumph would see Postecoglou's men condemned to a season without continental football next term.
The latter scenario could spell danger for the club's hopes of hanging onto their most prized assets, including Romero, who is believed to be a top target for the reigning European champions and Atletico Madrid after his strong transfer hint earlier this week.
Romero wanted by 'three unnamed Premier League teams' amid Spurs uncertainty
© Imago
CaughtOffside claims that Tottenham are not in the dark about other teams' interest in the South American, who has also caught the eye of three unnamed teams in the Premier League.
The 26-year-old is still on the same terms he penned when he signed for Tottenham permanently in 2022, which are due to expire in two years' time, but the report claims that they will soon draw up plans to tie him down to an extension.
No firm talks have taken place between Romero and the club yet, although the Argentina international has supposedly not held direct negotiations with either of the two Madrid giants either.
Romero has been limited to just 23 appearances in all competitions this season due to injury, while his total for the Lilywhites stands at seven goals and two assists from 121 appearances since his initial loan move in 2021.
Tottenham paid Atalanta BC £44.4m for Romero's signature back in 2022, but the North London club could justifiably demand more this summer if the Argentine pushes for a move elsewhere.
Ange Postecoglou responds to Romero transfer speculation
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Ange Postecoglou was quizzed on Romero's recent comments in Friday's press conference, but the Australian unsurprisingly side-stepped the question, responding: "I haven't read the report too closely but I mean it's like me, if you get asked a question, you have got to answer it.
"I am sure there is a lot or if you ask me a lot of questions about my future, you'd probably get some great headlines out of that as well, but it doesn't change [anything]. Do you know what's important right now?
"It is not Cristian Romero's future or anyone else's future, it is that we have an unbelievable opportunity to do something special at this football club and for me and everyone involved internally, that is what we're concentrating on.
"Let's put our heads down and make sure, because I think for our supporters that is what's the most important thing to them. Right now all they care about is that we're in the last four of a European competition and we want to do something special. That is where our focus is."
Romero is expected to be in the starting lineup when Spurs face Liverpool on Sunday, where the Lilywhites must prevail to keep North London rivals Arsenal in with the slimmest chance of winning the Premier League.
Ben Knapton
