Tottenham are poised to lose a star player this summer regardless of whether they maintain their Premier League status, according to a fresh report.
Spurs set for season-defining Leeds clash as they ask for Arsenal favour
Monday night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Roberto De Zerbi’s side are about to play the most important home game of their season.
Spurs sit 17th with 37 points, one point above West Ham in 18th, and face Leeds knowing that a win could open up a four-point cushion heading into the final two games — against Chelsea and Everton — which are considerably more manageable opponents than those that lie in West Ham’s path.
The eyes of Spurs fans will, however, have been trained on a different stadium long before kick-off on Monday night.
Arsenal’s trip to West Ham on Sunday represents a chance for the Hammers to close the gap on Spurs or even move above them, and the outcome of that fixture has shaped the backdrop of Monday’s game.
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Spurs have apparently identified him as a summer target.
De Zerbi goes into the game without Cristian Romero, Xavi Simons, Dominic Solanke, Ben Davies, Mohammed Kudus, Guglielmo Vicario and Dejan Kulusevski — a casualty list that has stripped the squad of much of its best quality at the worst possible time.
Antonín Kinsky continues in goal, with the back four of Pero Porro, Kevin Danso, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie likely to remain intact, while Richarlison will lead the line in the absence of Solanke.
Leeds arrive unbeaten in their last six Premier League fixtures and free of any meaningful relegation anxiety, but Spurs have won five of the last six league meetings between the sides, which offers some encouragement.
Amid the frantic dash for survival, news has emerged from talkSPORT reporter Ben Jacobs that adds a painful layer of context to Tottenham’s summer planning, regardless of how the coming weeks unfold.
Cristian Romero set to leave even if Tottenham stay up
Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jacobs delivered a sobering assessment of Romero’s future at the club.
“My information on Cristian Romero is he will depart even if Tottenham stay in the Premier League, or at least there’s a high likelihood of that,” he said.
“It would be a begrudging exit for Tottenham.”
The Argentine has been one of Tottenham’s most important players since his arrival from Atalanta in 2021, becoming club captain and one of the first names on the teamsheet under a succession of managers.
Romero made 23 Premier League appearances before a knee injury in April brought his campaign to a premature end, and it would’ve been more if not for his suspensions.
His recovery has been progressing, but the indication from Jacobs is that the injury has not changed the direction of travel — a departure this summer appears increasingly probable regardless of Spurs’ division next season.
The timing stings.
A club attempting to rebuild under De Zerbi, potentially having survived the drop, losing their captain and most influential defender in the same window is a significant setback.
Romero has been heavily linked with a move to Atletico Madrid since 2025, while some English rivals like Man United could look to take advantage of the World Cup winner’s situation.
For now, though, survival has to come first.
Leeds, West Ham’s result, and two games after that. Everything else waits.
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