Manchester United remain interested in Cristian Romero as the Tottenham Hotspur captain reaches a key decision on his future in North London, according to the latest report.
Bolstering the Backline
Despite Harry Maguire putting pen to paper on a new deal in April, United remain in the market for a new centre-back this summer, though initially it was understood that they were targeting a younger option.
The ongoing absence of Matthijs de Ligt due to a long-term back injury and Lisandro Martinez‘s increased fragility mean that central defence is not as well stocked as the unit appears, particularly as Maguire himself picked up knocks last season.
Both Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro are highly rated at Old Trafford, with coaches believing the pair have the potential to form as strong a partnership as Arsenal’s title-winning duo, Gabriel and William Saliba. However, they are inexperienced and prone to mistakes in the way every young defender is, leading United to consider more established options to bolster the backline.
Two targets in Germany – Bayern Munich’s Kim Min-jae and Borussia Dortmund’s Waldemar Anton – have been identified, though neither offers the Premier League experience that INEOS prioritises in new recruits.
Reckless and Rash or Bold and Brave?
Earlier this month, a trusted Argentine reporter revealed that United were considering a bid for Romero as the Argentina international was understood to be looking to leave Tottenham.
This was then dismissed by a local Manchester outlet, though transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed the Red Devils had made an enquiry for the 6’1″ defender a few months ago, even if an offer was not as imminent as initially suggested.
Sports Boom confirms United are “monitoring” Romero as an option, with the recruitment department understood to admire his “aggressive style, leadership qualities and top-level experience.”
However, this front-foot defensive approach often leads the 28-year-old to overstep the mark, resulting in a horrendous disciplinary record which makes him as much of a hindrance to his team as a help.
If Romero were able to channel his aggression, he would have the physical and technical skills to be an elite centre-back. However, without the mental side of the game to match, he remains a liability who should not be wearing the captain’s armband.
Furthermore, Sports Boom claims the Cordoba native has “made it clear that his preference is to remain with Spurs rather than seek a move away this summer”, informing the North London club he is “keen to remain at the heart of [Roberto De Zerbi’s] project and lead by example”.
Final Thoughts
The idea of an aggressive all-Argentine defensive partnership at Old Trafford between Romero and Martinez is one which would strike fear into opposition strikers’ hearts, even if it would also have the referee reaching into his pocket with alarming regularity.
Had Tottenham been relegated and a cut-price deal could have been struck to sign Romero, he would have made sense as an experienced centre-back to take over from an ageing Maguire. But with Spurs having staved off a descent into the Championship, the price they would demand to lose their captain will prove prohibitive to United’s budget this summer, with the priority being a revamp in midfield.
Feature image Warren Little via Getty Images
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