Arsenal have reportedly explored the possibility of signing a senior Tottenham player, a move that would mark the first direct transfer between the North London rivals in nearly five decades.
The Gunners recently missed out on Vinicius Junior after the Brazilian signed a new six-year contract with Real Madrid, forcing Mikel Arteta’s side to consider alternative targets as they continue strengthening the squad.
With William Saliba expected to miss the opening months of the season following back surgery, Arsenal are prioritising the signing of another centre-back. Gabriel Magalhães and Cristhian Mosquera are likely to start in central defence, while Piero Hincapié and Jurrien Timber can also provide cover.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal have made initial enquiries about Tottenham captain Cristian Romero. However, Spurs are reportedly unwilling to sell one of their key players to a direct Premier League rival and would rather approve a move abroad.
Romero has also attracted interest from Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan. Atletico are currently considered the frontrunners, while Inter’s pursuit has slowed as they focus on other transfer business.
Romano explained that Arsenal contacted Romero’s representatives to gather information, but acknowledged that completing a deal between Tottenham and Arsenal would be extremely difficult due to the fierce rivalry between the clubs.
Should negotiations with Atletico Madrid or Inter Milan fail, Arsenal could potentially revive their interest later in the transfer window.
The last high-profile player to move from Tottenham to Arsenal was Sol Campbell, who joined the Gunners on a free transfer in 2001 after leaving Spurs. However, the last player to be transferred directly between the two clubs was goalkeeper Pat Jennings, who swapped Tottenham for Arsenal in 1977.
