Tottenham's defensive line is set to look a whole lot different come the start of the 2026/27 season, with Cristian Romero and Guglielmo Vicario poised for departures.
While Vicario is heading to Inter Milan, club captain Romero is bound to garner plenty of transfer buzz after the World Cup. He'll recover from his knee injury in time for the start of the tournament, having missed the final six weeks of Tottenham's wretched campaign.
Romero ranks highly among Spurs' biggest disappointments of the season, especially after he was named captain last summer. Bad habits resurfaced, and his availability became a serious issue. The 28-year-old is outstanding on his day, and losing him once seemed detrimental, but now there's a sense that the time might be right for Romero to move on.
Spurs have been proactive in bolstering the centre-back position via free agency, with a deal struck for Romero's compatriot Marcos Senesi.
Cristian Romero is still expected to leave Tottenham this summer
The left-footed Senesi is unlikely to be a direct replacement for Romero. Rarely do you see two left-footers in tandem at the heart of any team's defence, and Roberto De Zerbi certainly won't want to be forced into utilising such a dynamic next season.
Senesi is being brought in to supply more reliable cover for Micky van de Ven. He's good enough to be a starting option for De Zerbi, but we're not bringing him in to play alongside the Dutchman. Well, unless De Zerbi fancies the road-runner of a defender as a left back.
The club's commitment to an experienced head, who'll likely join on hefty wages given that he's a free transfer, may highlight our expectation that Romero, one of the club's highest-paid players, will move on.
At this stage, there isn't much transfer buzz surrounding the Argentinian. Atlético Madrid were all over him last year, but their interest has cooled. Barcelona, meanwhile, might not have the requisite finances to appease the Lilywhites. It may take a stellar World Cup campaign for widespread intrigue to resurface, because Romero's stock has undoubtedly taken a hit.
If a potential buyer does come forward and our captain departs, then Luka Vuśković may find himself in a sudden position of importance. The young Croat's immediate future remains up in the air after an excellent loan spell with Hamburg. Spurs aren't yet sure what to do with him. The avoidance of relegation surely safeguards against a sale (or, at least, one we don't want to make), and many will wonder what good another loan spell would do.
It might be time to give Vušković the keys.
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