Tottenham offers Cristian Romero higher wages than Son amid Real Madrid interest

It seems that Cristian Romero (27, Tottenham) has little time left to decide whether to stay or transfer.

The British media 'Spurs Web' reported on the 20th (Korea time) that "Tottenham is preparing an ultimatum for Romero, who is receiving interest from Real Madrid," adding, "The club wants to expedite the renewal of Romero's contract. They want to demand a decision from him before the summer transfer window."

Romero, an Argentine national team defender, joined Tottenham through a loan transfer in 2021 and made a permanent transfer after a year. He has since established himself as a key player in defense. Currently, he is also serving as a vice captain alongside Son Heung-min and James Maddison. He has gained trust under coach Ange Postecoglou with his quick feet and bold defense.

However, there have been many instances of him being sent off for rough play that harms the team. Nevertheless, Romero's skills are highly regarded even in the Premier League.

Tottenham wants to continue their association with Romero. His contract expires in the summer of 2027.

Since there are only two years left in his contract after this season, if the renewal is delayed, the club has no choice but to consider a sale. According to 'Give Me Sports', Tottenham, wanting to keep Romero, has initially offered top-level conditions within the team.

Currently, Son Heung-min is the highest-paid player on the team with a weekly salary of £190,000 (about 360 million won). Romero is reported to be earning £165,000 (about 310 million won) per week.

However, Romero is not showing a distinct reaction even to the 'highest salary in the team' offer.

'Spurs Web' noted, "Romero is delaying his decision. Whether he participates in the UEFA Champions League next season is affecting his considerations."

Currently, Tottenham has dropped to 14th in the Premier League, so their chances of qualifying for the next season's UEFA Champions League are low. Winning the UEFA Europa League is the only way out, but they have to compete against strong teams like Frankfurt, Manchester United, and Athletic Club, making victory uncertain.

Tottenham is also keeping in mind the possibility of selling Romero. The media reported, "If Romero refuses to extend his contract before the end of the season, the club plans to market him in the summer transfer window," adding, "Tottenham wants to keep Romero, but if a long-term contract proves difficult, they aim to maximize revenue from a transfer fee. They are looking for more than £60 million (about 114.1 billion won)."

However, the likelihood of Real Madrid accepting this amount is uncertain, as promising player Raúl Asensio is showing good form and there are many alternatives.

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