Tottenham are reportedly prepared to table an offer for AC Milan defender and Chelsea target Alessio Romagnoli, whose contract at San Siro expires in the summer.
If reports from 90 min are to be believed, Tottenham Hotspur are ready to start talks with Alessio Romagnoli regarding a potential move in the summer, with Chelsea also keen on signing him. The AC Milan defender’s current contract at San Siro expires at the end of the season, thus making him eligible to sign a pre-contract agreement.
Tottenham themselves are eligible to start negotiating a deal with the player, who is yet to reach an agreement with Milan surrounding a possible contract extension. It appears the defender is not quite willing to take the pay cut, thus opening up the possibility of a potential exit from San Siro on a free transfer.
Romagnoli has been a part of Milan since 2015 when he joined the club from AS Roma. He has since notched up 239 competitive appearances for the Rossoneri, establishing himself as one of the finest Italian defenders in the process.
However, in the last year, the 26-year-old has lost his significance in the Milan first-team, especially after Simon Kjaer’s arrival at the club, combined with Fikayo Tomori’s rapid rise to prominence. While the player has continued to play a key role for the team in Kjaer’s absence, having notably featured in 13 matches this term, he is not considered irreplaceable.
In fact, the Rossoneri are already eyeing a move for Issa Diop in January. While the West Ham United centre-back is being targeted primarily to help out with the club’s injury crisis in defence, he can certainly prove to be a potential long-term replacement for Romagnoli.
The Italian, in turn, has emerged as a top target for Tottenham. It appears Antonio Conte is determined to rebuild his team’s defensive unit, especially amid uncertainties surrounding the long-term futures of some of the existing defenders. Joe Rodon, for one, is likely to depart in January amid interest from Newcastle United.
Davinson Sanchez has been courted by Napoli as well, although the Colombian is less likely to leave Tottenham anytime soon. But with questions posed over the quality and consistency (or lack thereof) of Eric Dier, Romagnoli could prove to be a smart investment for the club.
In addition to the Italian international, Tottenham are eyeing another AC Milan star in the form of Franck Kessie. The influential midfielder also has his contract expiring at the end of the season, although the Lilywhites may face stiff competition from league rivals Liverpool.
As for Chelsea, the Blues could be in desperate need of signing a centre-back next summer as Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen face uncertain futures at Stamford Bridge. While Rudiger is poised to join Real Madrid, as things stand, Christensen could be on his way to Barcelona.
To that end, Romagnoli is a viable target for Chelsea. The Italian international will also add leadership in the defensive unit, which is crucial amid the tricky contract situation of Cesar Azpilicueta. It remains to be seen if Chelsea will initiate contact to sign the Italian international or if Tottenham remain the clear front-runners to land him.
