Arsenal are set to commence their Premier League title defence later this month but will have to do so without William Saliba for the first few months of the season after the Frenchman suffered a back injury at this summer’s World Cup.
Saliba has decided against undergoing a surgery but is expected to spend an indefinite time on the treatment table, and with his importance for the Gunners in mind, it is likely that they will invest in a centre back before the summer transfer window ends.
Football Transfers has reported that Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero has emerged as a top target for Arsenal with Mikel Arteta keen on the 28-year-old’s addition to the roster as cover for Saliba as well as to bolster quality and depth at the back.
Romero is expected to depart Spurs this month and has also been linked with Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan amongst others. He is valued at £43 million on Transfermarkt but with his age and calibre in mind, his asking price might be much higher.
Arsenal strong contenders for Romero
While he has spent a few years in England with Tottenham Hotspur, Cristian Romero has no silverware to his name barring the UEFA Europa League and as a result, joining Arsenal might be a tempting proposition for him.
Unlike the Gunners, who won the Premier League last year and finished second in the Champions League, Atletico Madrid are well behind Barcelona and Real Madrid domestically in Spain, while Inter Milan might not be able to afford his services.
Romero’s aggression, tackling and aerial prowess, coupled with strong positioning and ability to get onto the end of set-piece deliveries make him a brilliant signing for Arsenal in this summer’s transfer window.
Though not the most attractive destination from a sporting perspective, Atletico Madrid might be Arsenal’s toughest opponents in a race for Romero considering Diego Simeone is believed to be keen on the player while the La Liga giants also have a number of other Argentines already on their roster.
It will be interesting to see where the former Atalanta star lands up next and while it would require a strong effort from Arsenal to secure his services, it is fair to believe they will offer him the ideal platform to win silverware.
