Former Tottenham Hotspur star Graham Roberts insists that Milan Skriniar would have been one of his top targets this summer, although it does not appear that he will be joining the club.

Spurs are reported to be in talks to sign Cristian Romero from Atalanta for a fee of around €55m (£46.8m).

They are also reported to be pursuing Takehiro Tomiyasu of Bologna, who can play as a right-back and a centre-back, as well as a defensive midfielder.

Spurs were reported to be interested in Skriniar last summer, with Steve Hitchen travelling to Italy in an attempt to strike an agreement.

It remains to be seen if Spurs will make a potential move for the Inter Milan defender this summer but it seems unlikely given the pursuit of separate defenders.

But Roberts believes that Skriniar, who is valued at £54m by Transfermarkt, would have been an excellent signing, and admits that he would have placed him at the very top of his shortlist.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, he said: “I think last year we could probably have got him for 40 million. I know Inter need to sell because they’ve had to get rid of Conte and people like that because of the money situation.

“You never know but I would say he would have been one of my top targets, I don’t believe we need to start messing the team up."