Tottenham lose star defender in devastating injury blow

Tottenham Hotspur's hopes of challenging for the Premier League title face a significant setback as star centre-back Cristian Romero is set to miss at least a month of action due to a hamstring injury.

The Premier League club are already dealing with defensive woes and may be forced to explore the transfer market for a new centre-back to provide crucial cover after Romero was forced off at halftime during Tottenham's recent 2-1 home victory over Everton, according to manager Ange Postecoglou.

The injury comes at a challenging time for Spurs, who are already without their key central defenders, with Dutchman Micky van de Ven sidelined since early November and not expected to return until next month.

Postecoglou confirmed the severity of Romero's injury, stating, "No, no. He's no good. He's had a scan, so he'll be out for four or five weeks." The absence of Romero, combined with Van de Ven's continued unavailability, leaves Tottenham thin in defensive options.

With James Maddison, Ivan Perisic, Ryan Sessegnon, Manor Solomon, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Ashley Phillips also on the long-term absentee list, Tottenham's squad depth is being seriously tested.

Speaking about the situation, Postecoglou addressed the need for reinforcements in the central defence position. "I don't put as much stock into the left-sided or right-sided centre-back scenario, we just need another player in that position who can provide some more depth for us and the ability to change it up.

"It is more about the profile and characteristics. We didn't go looking for a left-sided centre back at the start of the year; it just happened that Micky was the perfect centre-back. It is about looking at the right profile, the right characteristics, and seeing what is available, then going from there."

As Tottenham looks to navigate the challenges posed by injuries and strengthen their squad, the search for defensive reinforcements becomes a priority. The January transfer window could see Spurs actively pursuing options to fortify their backline and maintain competitiveness in the Premier League.