What Cristian Romero injury could now mean for Japhet Tanganga and Tottenham transfer plans

The news that Cristian Romero is set for a spell on the sidelines has come as a big blow to Antonio Conte and Tottenham. The Argentina international picked up a muscle injury in last Sunday's 2-2 draw at Chelsea, and reported on Wednesday evening that he is set to be absent for three to four weeks as a result of the problem.

Romero will now miss out on the upcoming games against Wolves, Nottingham Forest, West Ham and Fulham. The injury is likely to see him being unavailable for Spurs' return to Champions League action at the start of September and potentially their Premier League game away at Manchester City a few days later.

Davinson Sanchez deputised for his teammate when he was injured last campaign and the Colombian will be expected to step straight back into the side for the first time in 2022/23. Tottenham have already strengthened at the back this summer with Clement Lenglet joining on a season-long loan from Barcelona, but the player isn't a natural in Romero's role as he mainly operates on the opposite side of defence and in the middle.

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Another option at right centre-back for Conte is Japhet Tanganga, who returned to the bench at Stamford Bridge last weekend after missing out on selection a week earlier against Southampton. Playing regularly during Conte's first couple of months in charge with injuries decimating his defensive options, the academy graduate himself later sustained a knee injury that required surgery and didn't feature after the 2-0 defeat at Chelsea towards the end of January.

Dropping a further place down the pecking order following Lenglet's arrival, Tanganga has been heavily linked with a move away