Ever since the departures of Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane, Real Madrid have been looking for their next long-term center-back partnership and have sign a number of players and used a number of different combinations to varrying degrees of success.
In recent years, the club has had extremely successful seasons with different center-back duos like Eder Militao and David Alaba, as well as Antonio Rudiger and Nacho Fernandez, and the club were hoping a Dean Huijsen-Eder Militao partnership would be their next Ramos-Varane. Unfortunately, so far they've struggled to find consistency together due to injuries to both players and somewhat clashing playing styles.
As a result, Real has been scouring the transfer market looking for their ideal next central defender and has been linked with a number of top-class players who will be available in the summer. Names like Ibrahima Konate, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Mickey Van de Ven are a few that highlight the list and the club can't afford to sign the wrong option yet again.
There's another defender, however, who has been linked with the club on a number of occasions in the past and would be the perfect replacement for Sergio Ramos, but Real face competition from their bitter rivals, and they can't afford to lose this race.
Atletico Madrid join Real Madrid in race for Premier League defender
The Sun in England reports that Atletico Madrid are eyeing a move for Tottenham center-back Cristian Romero, whose future is uncertain beyond this season, with the player weighing up his options this summer. Atleti were keen to sign the Argentine last summer but couldn't afford him, and will look to come back in for him this summer.
Spurs' captain has been a target of Los Blancos in the past, and they can't allow their cross-city rivals to steal this signing away from them.
The 27-year-old has a number of attributes that make him a great signing for Los Blancos, which are hard to find among other candidates. He's quick, physical, good on the ball, a solid goal threat, and he brings a fiery intensity that Real's backline has been lacking since the departure of Ramos. He's a great leader in the backline, and combining his attributes with those of Eder Militao would hand Florentino Perez's next permanent manager a South American wall in defense.
Romero is under contract with the Premier League club until 2029 but with the season disappointing Spurs are having, and his frustration with the club, he could well be on the move this summer and Real Madrid need to do everything they can to make sure they land him and not Atleti. He's currently valued at around €60 million (via Transfermarkt) and given how badly Real need a central defender, there should be no question of paying that money.