Inter Milan are pushing to sign Cristian Romero from Tottenham, with ongoing talks raising hopes of securing the Argentine defender for around €40 million.

Inter Milan are continuing direct negotiations with both Tottenham Hotspur and Cristian Romero’s representatives as they step up efforts to bring the Argentine defender back to Serie A this summer.

Discussions have reportedly made progress on both fronts, with Inter remaining optimistic that an agreement can be reached despite Tottenham valuing the center-back at around €50 million. The Nerazzurri believe they can lower the fee to approximately €40 million given the current circumstances.

Romero and Tottenham are understood to accept that their time together has come to an end, with neither side expecting the 27-year-old to remain in North London for the upcoming season. That situation has strengthened Inter’s confidence in completing the transfer.

Tottenham, however, are unwilling to accept a deal structured as a loan with an obligation to buy. Instead, they are demanding a permanent transfer, forcing Inter to explore ways of raising the funds needed for an all-cash offer.

One option being considered is reallocating part of the budget originally reserved for signing a replacement for Denzel Dumfries. Inter could instead deploy Andy Diouf on the right flank, freeing up more money to finance Romero’s arrival.

Barcelona had previously been viewed as Inter’s main competition for the Argentina international, but the Spanish champions have reportedly cooled their interest, leaving the Nerazzurri in a strong position. 

The clubs still need to agree on the transfer fee, while Romero’s camp and Inter must finalize the length of his contract, salary and performance-related bonuses. Nevertheless, the defender is said to be eager to return to Italy after previous spells with Genoa, Juventus and Atalanta.