ENIC have their own William Saliba who can end Romero’s Spurs career

Spursy. It is a tag that Tottenham Hotspur simply can not seem to shake off.

Ange Postecoglou tried, and in a manner, succeeded, ending 17 years of determined lunges for silverware by profitable the Europa League title final season, defeating Manchester United within the last. However what’s come since has typified the Spursy tag.

Final week, the much-maligned Thomas Frank was given a merciful finish to his time within the dugout. Any longer would have been a slight in opposition to a gifted coach whose try on the job had not labored out. It had been untenable for some time already, lengthy earlier than that dismal dwelling defeat to Newcastle United.

Frank’s time on the helm spilt to the ground all of the goodwill that had been poured right into a cup. A European cup. However that cup proved a poisoned chalice for a membership who’ve since spiralled uncontrolled.

On the epicentre of the issues has been Cristian Romero, an immensely gifted centre-back who simply so occurs to be Spurs’ mutinous captain.

The most recent on Cristian Romero’s future

In 2023, Lionel Messi declared that his countryman Romero was “the perfect defender on the planet”. Worldwide allegiance suggests bias, however there is no query that Messi is aware of a factor or two a few good defender, having bested so many through the years.

The Argentina worldwide is certainly the most effective within the enterprise, however he is additionally risky and hot-headed, as his crimson card in opposition to Manchester United illustrated earlier this month.

Romero will likely be absent when Spurs host Arsenal within the Premier League on Sunday, and given that he’s displaying all of the indicators of mutiny forward of the summer time switch window, it is seemingly that ENIC Group will look to money in and reshape their membership’s backline going ahead.

A tricky ask, even with Micky van de Ven already on the coronary heart of Spurs’ defensive system. Nevertheless it’s a truth Spurs should face, with the 27-year-old tipped to maneuver away this summer time, suitors from Spain making ready presents.

Whereas Romero’s departure would name for the addition of a high-profile alternative, Tottenham might need to look nearer to dwelling as they search a route ahead, with an unbelievable younger expertise in line to make his debut subsequent season.

Spurs have already got the right Romero alternative

Tottenham’s issues can’t be pinned all the way down to anybody space of the pitch, and although they have been toothless in assault underneath Frank’s wing, there have additionally been fragilities on the again for too lengthy.

Contemplating this, Romero’s departure might show a detrimental blow, however with Luka Vuskovic set to make his aggressive bow in a Spurs shirt subsequent season, there’s trigger for confidence but.

Vuskovic is just 18, and but he is rising as one of the vital gifted centre-halves in Europe, at present out on mortgage with Hamburg within the German Bundesliga.

A contemporary-day defender, he’s technically gifted and aggressive, creating out on mortgage in a fashion just like that of Arsenal’s William Saliba, who joined that membership from St. Etienne in France as an 18-year-old in 2019. Saliba spent three years out on mortgage in Ligue 1 earlier than arriving within the Premier League as a sophisticated, world-class star.

Now, Vuskovic might repeat that trick down N17. A risk within the attacking field, he is “turning right into a purpose machine”, in line with U23 scout Antonio Mango, and he’s additionally one of the vital strong and energetic defenders in Europe, averaging 8.3 clearances per recreation and profitable 77% of his aerial duels.

That is absurd, particularly for somebody so younger, however his sustained stage over the yr suggests he has what it takes to interchange Romero at Tottenham subsequent season, particularly when you think about how he will likely be partnered with a bona fide famous person in Van de Ven.

The Croatian prospect isn’t the completed product, however that is solely gas for the argument that he might develop into the most effective on the planet, one thing Spurs scouts recognised once they signed him from Hajduk Cut up, aged 16, in 2023.

May Vuskovic be anticipated to carry out with the identical gusto and authority as Romero from the get-go? No. However he might definitely play an necessary half subsequent season and past, rising into his pores and skin as one of the vital thrilling younger defenders on the planet, somebody who can lead Spurs again into the ascendancy.

You by no means know in soccer, nevertheless it does seem as if Romero will depart Tottenham this summer time. A minimum of the membership will financial institution a reasonably penny.

A brand new defender will likely be wanted, for positive, however with Vuskovic flying again to England on the finish of the season, this may simply be a constructive turning level for the Lilywhites.