Tottenham could lose key man as Atletico Madrid eye £45m transfer swoop

Atletico Madrid are eager to seal a deal for Tottenham centre-back Cristian Romero ahead of the Club World Cup. Diego Simeone has identified the Spurs defender as his primary target, with hopes of snapping up the 26-year-old Argentine for less than £45million.

Confidence is surging in Madrid that the World Cup champion would be open to a switch to Wanda Metropolitano after nearly four campaigns at N17. The La Liga giants are on the hunt for two central defenders this summer and have also eyed Valencia's Cristhian Mosquera as a potential recruit alongside Romero.

With Cesar Azpilicueta, Axel Witsel, and Reinildo Mandava's contracts expiring in June, and Clement Lenglet set to return to Barcelona post-loan, all four could miss the Club World Cup and might exit Atletico during FIFA's "exceptional registration window" from June 1 to June 10.

Meanwhile, Spurs' Rodrigo Bentacur has also caught Simeone's attention, but any move may depend on Tottenham's managerial situation come next season.