Nuno Santo is facing his first nightmare at Tottenham Hotspur as a reliable source has dropped a fresh update on the club's pursuit of Cristian Romero...

What's the word?

It's widely believed that Spurs have been in talks to sign the Atalanta centre-back for several weeks now, but the move is yet to edge closer to an official signing just yet.

And football.london reporter Alasdair Gold has provided insight into why the deal is dragging on closer to next month's transfer deadline. Writing in a recent column, he said:

"Progress in talks to sign Cristian Romero has slowed and despite the Argentine being Tottenham's main target a decision will be made sooner rather than later over whether to push closer to Atalanta's demands or put that money towards more than one player on Paratici's list with lower price tags."

Nuno needs him

After sanctioning the exit of Toby Alderweireld to Qatar, the Lilywhites are looking rather threadbare in defence, and that's a worrying prospect with kick-off against reigning champions Manchester City merely two weeks away.

It's an even bigger nightmare when you consider that Spurs' defence was already one of the worst at the top end of the Premier League table. Indeed, no other traditional 'big six' team leaked more goals than the North Londoners - not even arch-rivals Arsenal, who finished below them in the table.

The likelihood that two of Davinson Sanchez, Eric Dier and Joe Rodon start the opening game is increasing by the day. Again, that's got to put fear into many supporters as the former pairing were deemed "one of the worst" in the top-flight by ex-midfielder Jamie O'Hara.

Romero looks to be the answer to Spurs' prayers as he was crowned the Serie A's 'Defender of the Year' for the 2020/21 campaign as Atalanta finished third behind both Milan clubs.

His performances in Italy have earned high praise, with one glowing endorsement suggesting that he could well be the perfect successor to the departing Belgian veteran.

Serie A expert Conor Clancy told This is Futbol:

"He has been phenomenal as he won the MVP award for the best defender in Serie A, but he is one of the most deceptively dirty players in the Serie A. However, when he has the ball, his distribution and passing is so, so good.

"Romero can pick out a 50-yard pass onto the foot of a striker perfectly but it’s something that goes a little bit unnoticed because his defensive work is so good and he is a top, top defender."

Alderweireld was renowned for his diagonal long-balls to Heung-min Son and Harry Kane up top, so the Argentina international certainly seems like an ideal replacement.

Furthermore, an average of 3.6 aerial duels won, 3.1 interceptions (best in the league), two tackles and 0.5 shots per game suggests he is far more than just a ball-playing defender, as per WhoScored.

Nuno will surely be anxious as a move for the Atalanta beast has "slowed" down, as Gold mentions in his column. This ultimately leaves Spurs in a sticky and worrying spot heading into the new season.

Right now, the Portuguese is facing a nightmarish situation, and that will leave the Spurs faithful fuming.

AND in other news, Paratici may repeat Spurs' fatal Skriniar mistake with "sensational" £18m-rated beast...