Arsenal and Chelsea consider shock move for £42m Tottenham star as agent opens talks

Arteta and Alonso both on the search for more options at the back (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal and Chelsea are considering a shock move for Tottenham defender Cristian Romero, according to reports in Italy .

Romero is under contract in north London until 2029 but there is an expectation he will leave Spurs this summer with two new defensive arrivals already in the door in Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi.

The Tottenham captain missed the end of last season with a knee injury as the club battled for Premier League survival and enraged supporters after he considered missing the final game of the season against Everton to go watch his boyhood club back in Argentina.

Inter Milan are eager to sign the centre-half having also shown interest in England full-back Djed Spence.

The Nerazzurri have held talks with Romero’s representatives with Spurs thought to be asking for €50million (£42m).

Inter would be keen on a loan with an obligation to buy deal, similar to the one that took Manuel Akanji to Italy from Manchester City last year.

Corriere dello Sport report Romero has emerged as Inter’s priority with the player indicating he is open to a return to Italy four years on from leaving Atalanta.

Romero expected to leave Spurs (Picture: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)

But the report claims Arsenal and Chelsea pose the biggest risk to Inter’s plans and have shown interest in signing him.

A move across north London would appear unlikely but the Gunners are in the market for another defender with William Saliba set to miss the start of the season due to a back problem.

Chelsea meanwhile are on the brink of signing of Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace but are on the lookout for another option at the back.