Tottenham star center back Cristian Romero is inching closer towards a Spurs exit this summer. Despite being the team's best center back, Romero is eyeing a move to LaLiga and may already be close to securing a transfer to Spanish giants Atletico Madrid.
If Tottenham lose out on the 26-year-old central defender this year, they will need to sign a replacement and potentially a second center back if they also decide to move on from both Ben Davies and young Radu Dragusin.
Both Romero and Dragusin were two of the best center backs in Serie A before making the move to Tottenham, and it appears Spurs have not lost interest in going to that well. Bologna star Jhon Lucumi, who has remained key even after Riccardo Calafiori's departure to Arsenal, is one apparent transfer target.
Tottenham battling West Ham for Koni De Winter
Now, according to a report from GiveMeSport's Ben Jacobs, Tottenham are competing with local rivals West Ham and Crystal Palace for another Serie A breakout star at center back in Genoa's Koni De Winter, who, like Romero and Dragusin, was a neglected Juventus prospect before breaking out elsewhere in Italy. (Dragusin, by the way, was a Genoa player before joining Tottenham.)
De Winter has quietly been one of the best center backs in the league this season, so it isn't a surprise to see his solid defensive work rewarded in the form of transfer interest from some serious clubs in England.
This season, the 22-year-old Belgian international is averaging 2.4 combined tackles and interceptions per game with just 0.3 dribbles completed allowed and 4.3 clearances per game. He is completing around 87 percent of his roughly 50 pass attempts per game and even has three goals to boot.
De Winter has always been a great athlete and a promising player, but he never got his chance to shine at Juventus. Now, Genoa have turned De Winter into one of the most solid one-on-one defenders in Serie A, and the tactical training he is getting there, along with his athletic traits, would serve him well at Tottenham.
While De Winter isn't yet at the level needed to directly replace Romero, he could be a one-for-one substition for former Genoa star Dragusin. He would be important depth regardless if Dragusin stays and only Romero goes. At just 25 million pounds, per Jacobs, De Winter is right in line with the kind of fee Spurs should be paying for a player like this.