Tottenham Hotspur are on the verge of finalising the departure of defender Cristian Romero to Inter Milan, with medical arrangements already in place ahead of the September 1 transfer deadline, according to reports.
The move comes as Spurs look to balance the books following a summer of significant investment, having already committed more than £260 million to six new signings this window. Selling established first-team players before the deadline has become a priority for the north London club as they seek to offset that outlay.
Romero, 26, is expected to link up with fellow England international John Stones at the San Siro. Stones made the switch to Inter last month on a free transfer following his departure from Manchester City. The Nerazzurri have been active in strengthening their squad this summer and are also said to be renewing their interest in Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones, a pursuit that comes after Inter sent Italy international Davide Frattesi out on loan to Lazio.
As part of the agreement for Romero's transfer, Tottenham have reportedly negotiated a 15 per cent sell-on clause, ensuring the club would benefit financially should Inter later sell the Argentine centre-back for a profit. His departure will leave Spurs needing to name a new club captain for the second time in just over a year, a role Romero had taken on following previous changes in leadership at the club.
Despite the deal moving forward with Inter, sources close to the situation say Tottenham never seriously considered offloading Romero to a domestic rival, underlining the sensitivity around player sales within the Premier League. His move abroad, rather than to another English club, appears to have been the preferred outcome for all parties involved.
Romero's potential exit from Tottenham has been on the cards for some time. After four seasons in north London, the defender has been seen as increasingly likely to pursue a new challenge elsewhere, with speculation over his future intensifying throughout the past year.
His time at the club was not without controversy. Romero faced criticism last season for disciplinary problems that saw him sidelined through suspension on multiple occasions, disrupting Tottenham's defensive continuity at key moments. He also drew the ire of a section of the Tottenham fanbase after it emerged he had travelled to Argentina shortly before the club's decisive final-day Premier League fixture against Everton, a match that carried significant importance for Spurs' season.
Despite those off-field issues, Romero has been regarded as one of Tottenham's more combative and reliable defensive options during his stint at the club, and his departure represents a notable change to the squad's backline heading into the new campaign.
With the transfer window deadline fast approaching, Tottenham's business is expected to continue at pace, both in terms of incomings and further departures, as the club looks to reshape its squad while managing the financial impact of its heavy summer spending. Inter Milan, meanwhile, continue to strengthen a squad that already includes Stones, with further moves for players like Jones potentially still to come before the window closes.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport.