Tottenham ready to AXE captain Romero, even if they stay in Premier League

Tottenham have endured a miserable season and are facing the very real threat of being relegated to the Championship, with captain Cristian Romero set to depart regardless

Tottenham Hotspur could show the exit door to captain Cristian Romero this summer regardless of what league they end up in. The north London side have endured a miserable campaign and are facing the threat of relegation to the Championship.

Spurs sit 16th in the Premier League, just one point above the drop zone, after replacing Thomas Frank with Igor Tudor. Despite doubts over which league they could be playing in next season, club chiefs are ready to kick off a mass overhaul ahead of next season.

According to The Telegraph, Argentine defender Romero is among those who could be sold in order to finance a rebuild. The 27-year-old originally wanted to leave last summer, but Spurs held firm on their valuation.

Romero eventually ended up signing a new contract and was handed the club captaincy. But he has endured a tricky season since, having missed six games through suspension, while he also criticised the way the club was run on social media.

He wrote: "Great effort from all my teammates yesterday, they were incredible. I wanted to be available to help them even though I wasn't feeling well, especially since we only had 11 players available - unbelievable but true and disgraceful.

"We'll keep showing up and taking responsibility to turn this around, working hard and staying together. All that's left is to thank all of you for being there and for always supporting us, the fans."

He added: "At times like this, it should be other people coming out to speak, but they don't - as has been happening for several years now. They only show up when things are going well.

"We'll stay here, working, sticking together and giving our all to turn things around. Especially at times like this, keeping quiet, working harder and moving forward all together, is part of football."

Spurs have now come to the conclusion that a parting of the ways might be beneficial for both parties. Atletico Madrid - who Spurs take on in the Champions League last 16 - are among his admirers should the defender choose to leave.

Romero was signed from Atalanta in 2021, initially on loan but with an option to make that deal permanent. Spurs eventually went through with a deal, with the defender having since gone on to make 152 appearances for the club.

He is far from the only star potentially available this summer. It is also suggested that Spurs would be open to doing deals for goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and full-back Pedro Porro.