Tottenham ‘in advanced talks to sign TWO players from Atalanta… Copa America-winning defender Cristian Romero and former Aston Villa goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini’ as Nuno Espirito Santo eyes up first new Spurs signings
- Tottenham are yet to make a new signing under Nuno Espirito Santo this summer
- The club are reportedly in advanced talks with Atalanta over two of their players
- One is defender Cristian Romero – who won the Copa America with Argentina
- Goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini is also a reported target as back-up to Hugo Lloris
Tottenham are in advanced talks over signing Atalanta duo Pierluigi Gollini and Cristian Romero this summer, according to reports.
The north Londoners have yet to make a first-team signing following the appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo as the club’s new head coach, following a 73-day search for Jose Mourinho’s successor by Spurs owner Daniel Levy.
It has been all change at the Tottenham help with Italian sporting director Fabio Paratici arriving from Juventus, who is now tasked with organising Santo’s first summer transfer window as Spurs coach.
Tottenham are in talks over signing Atalanta’s Cristian Romero (left) and Pierluigi Gollini (right), according to reports
Nuno Espirito Santo is yet to receive a new signing from the Spurs hierarchy since he joined
And according to several reports, including football.london, Spurs are set to sign Romero, who is currently on loan at Atalanta from Juventus, before clinching a deal for goalkeeper Gollini – who will be Hugo Lloris’ standby option.
The report adds Atalanta will activate a £13million option to sign Romero permanently for Juventus as part of the loan deal, before selling him on for a profit.
The 23-year-old played 42 times in all competitions for Gian Piero Gasperini’s side, including 31 displays in Serie A in a campaign which saw him win the division’s Defender of the Year Award for last season.
Defender Romero (left) was part of the Argentina side who won the Copa America this summer
Before last season, the centre-back was on loan at former club Genoa from Juventus, while Romero also played alongside Lionel Messi in the Argentina side that won the Copa America earlier this summer.
Tottenham’s defence needs boosting as Toby Aldeweireld recently revealed his desire to quit the club, while Spurs have been chasing the likes of Sevilla defender Jules Kounde and Lyon defender Joachim Andersen, on loan at Fulham last term.
Italian goalkeeper Gollini, meanwhile, has been the main man between the sticks for Atalanta for the past three seasons, a period which has seen them emerge as Champions League regulars.
Gollini (right) played 20 times for Aston Villa during the 2016-17 Championship season
Gollini is set to become an understudy to Hugo Lloris (above) who has one year left on his deal
The 26-year-old, who came through the youth ranks at Manchester United and played 20 times for Aston Villa in the 2016-17 Championship season, was left out of Roberto Mancini’s victorious Italy squad for this summer’s European Championships.
There is concern over the Tottenham future of club captain Hugo Lloris, who has less than a year left on his contract in north London, with Sportsmail revealing in February that Burnley’s Nick Pope was deemed a long-term successor to the 34-year-old France captain.
But Spurs may now turn to Gollini, who has made nearly 100 appearances for Atalanta since he first joined on loan from Aston Villa in 2016, as somebody who could emerge as the Tottenham captain’s successor as No 1.