Tottenham Hotspur are poised to have a sizeable hole to fill at the heart of their defence this summer, with captain Cristian Romero expected to leave the club.
Thrust into a position of responsibility after Son Heung-min's departure last summer, Romero embarked on the most disappointing season of his Premier League career, as Spurs barely survived relegation.
It was a campaign marred by suspensions and fitness issues, with a knee injury ending his season prematurely in April. Kevin Danso helped steady the ship in his absence, and while Romero is undoubtedly brilliant when fit and focussed, supporters are at peace with moving on from the chaotic Argentine this summer.
Former Roberto De Zerbi player emerges as leading Cristian Romero replacement
Left-sided centre-back Marcos Senesi is poised to join the club as a free agent, but the former Bournemouth star will be signed to provide stiffer competition for Micky van de Ven. Roberto De Zerbi won't be utilising two left-footed centre-backs in tandem next season.
Some have suggested that 19-year-old Luka Vušković could step up to fill the impending void, having starred on loan at Hamburg. However, his future remains up in the air, with more clarity likely to arrive after the World Cup. Vušković could pen a new long-term contract at Spurs, or the club could seek to cash in while his stock his sky-high.
I'd prefer the former.
Still, even if he does commit to the Lilywhites, there's no guarantee that Vušković will immediately figure in De Zerbi's plans. While Danso is a steady deputy, Spurs will be in the market for a Romero replacement.
According to The Athletic, the option to keep an eye on is Brighton & Hove Albion's Jan Paul van Hecke. The Dutchman, who's part of the Netherlands World Cup squad, worked with De Zerbi on the south coast and has just a year left remaining on his contract. While the Seagulls typically drive a hard bargain, Van Hecke's situation means they wouldn't have much leverage if Spurs pursue.
De Zerbi once lauded Van Hecke's confidence and "incredible personality" after the then-23-year-old worked his way into the Italian's plans. He's a fundamentally sound and progressive centre-back, who isn't immune to a noteworthy error, exemplified at Spurs and Leeds United late in the 2025/26 campaign. Still, the positives largely outweigh the drawbacks, with De Zerbi's familiarity offering encouragement. He knows what he's getting, having maximised his talent before.
Van Hecke is the build-up conductor we'd sorely need if Romero was to go.
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