Tottenham cancel new contract talks with “top” player, he’s now pushing to leave – journalist

Tottenham Hotspur face a perfect storm of instability as star defender Cristian Romero actively pushes for a summer exit while manager Ange Postecoglou fights to save his job.

The north London club’s hierarchy confronts dual crises that threaten to derail their rebuilding project, with their Argentine center-back determined to leave for La Liga and their Australian coach clinging to Europa League success as his last hope of survival.

Romero’s desire to depart signals a devastating blow to Tottenham’s ambitions. The 26-year-old World Cup winner has informed close associates of his wish to pursue a new challenge in Spain, prompting chairman Daniel Levy to shelve contract extension talks.

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has personally courted the defender, while Real Madrid’s interest adds further pressure on Spurs’ resolve. Levy’s £60 million valuation presents a significant obstacle for cash-strapped Spanish clubs, but Romero’s determination could force Tottenham’s hand regardless of their European qualification status.

The potential loss of their defensive linchpin compounds Tottenham’s wider turmoil. Postecoglou’s second season has collapsed spectacularly after last year’s promising fifth-place finish, with 15 Premier League defeats leaving Spurs languishing in 14th position.

While injuries initially provided mitigation, the team’s persistent struggles with key players returning have exposed fundamental flaws in Postecoglou’s system. The Australian now faces a brutal five-game Premier League stretch that could define his tenure:

Fabrizio Romano reveals Tottenham’s hierarchy has already begun evaluating replacements for Postecoglou, with Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola emerging as the leading candidate.

The Spanish manager’s transformative work at the Vitality Stadium has impressed Spurs’ decision-makers, while alternatives like Inter Milan’s Simone Inzaghi and Fulham’s Marco Silva remain on their radar.

Romero’s potential departure would strip Tottenham of their most authoritative defender and dressing room leader. Former Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson’s assessment three years ago now reads prophetically: “He could play in any side in the top four…If Spurs are going to go places Romero is the type of player they need to keep and build around.” Losing such a pivotal figure could trigger wider squad unrest, particularly if Postecoglou also exits.

The coming weeks represent a critical juncture for Tottenham’s short and long-term future. Postecoglou must engineer both a European run and Premier League resurgence to justify continued faith in his project.

Simultaneously, Levy must decide whether to cash in on Romero or fight to retain a player whose commitment appears to have waned. These intertwined crises threaten to undo whatever progress Tottenham have made since Pochettino’s departure, leaving the club at a crossroads between another rebuild or persevering with a faltering vision.

One certainty emerges from the chaos – Tottenham’s summer will be defined by seismic decisions that could either stabilize or further destabilize a club struggling to recapture its former identity. The stakes couldn’t be higher for Levy and his embattled manager as they navigate these dual threats to Tottenham’s ambitions.