Cristian Romero staying at Tottenham next season could have huge implications for Radu Dragusin’s future
Tottenham Hotspur will take on Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Saturday, hoping to make it three Premier League wins on the bounce.
After their 1-0 win over Manchester United at home last Sunday, when James Maddison scored the winner, the mood in the Spurs camp will be positive. However, winning at Portman Road will not be easy despite Ipswich Town reeling in the relegation zone.
Ange Postecoglou saw five key players return to the side last weekend and that certainly has bulked up the squad. The defence, though, is still missing the presence of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven—both not expected to be back until mid-March. Also, Radu Dragusin has been ruled out for the rest of the season after sustaining an ACL injury in a Europa League game in January.
To address the defensive woes, Spurs signed Kevin Danso on loan from RC Lens with an obligation to buy in the summer. The Austrian defender has enjoyed a decent start to life in North London, which could be bad news for Dragusin. This is because Dragusin is expected to be out between six to nine months (depending on his recovery and rehab from ACL rupture), and by the time he returns, the Romanian might struggle to get games under his belt.
Also, Cristian Romero’s status at the club could have an impact on Dragusin’s future at N17. The 2022 World Cup winner, who has endured an injury-hit season, is frustrated by Tottenham’s lack of progress amid links with Real Madrid. However, should Romero stay put, it could spell the end of Dragusin’s Tottenham career.
Despite having a contract until 2027 (Transfermarkt), Tottenham are prepared to offer Romero a bumper new deal to secure his long-term future in London and fend off interest from potential suitors. They are planning to make the Argentinean defender the club’s highest-paid player.
Spurs podcast Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham wants the club to not offer Romero a new deal and cash him in this summer. However, if the 26-year-old does stay put, he has suggested that Dragusin could leave the Lilywhites on loan.
“Kevin Danso has really impressed me in his first few games at Spurs,” John Wenham exclusively told Tottenham News.
“He looks strong, he goes about his business well, and he has a good recovery pace. When I asked fans what they thought on social media, a lot of people have suggested he is better than Dragusin.
“Therefore, I think Romero will probably move on in the summer. However, if he were to remain at Tottenham, the club could consider sending Dragusin out on loan to a Premier League side, to see what he can do at that level, playing week in, week out as the main man.
“That would leave Romero, Micky van de Ven and Danso as the three options. However, I do think it is highly unlikely that Romero stays at this point.”
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Romero is the only World Cup winner in Ange Postecoglou’s squad. The South American has high ambitions and wants to win titles, and if Tottenham goes another season trophy-less, there are high chances of him leaving the club. But if the Hotspur Way chiefs persuade him to stay for the 2025/26 campaign, loaning out Dragusin after he fully heals from a serious knee injury would probably make the most sense.
Also, the North Londoners could return for Crystal Palace skipper Marc Guehi in the summer following a failed January pursuit, which will potentially complicate the futures of both Romero and Dragusin.
