Tottenham: Roberto De Zerbi confirms Cristian Romero talks as Richarlison considers exit | OneFootball

Two senior stars could be leaving north London

Roberto De Zerbi as responded to reports that Tottenham captain Cristian Romero is close to joining Inter Milan.

Romero is expected to leave north London this summer, just a year after being handed the skipper's armband and signing a new four-year contract.

De Zerbi has previously hinted at Romero's desire to leave the club, and reports from the player's homeland of Argentina overnight claimed a bid worth around £34million has been accepted by Spurs.

But De Zerbi insists he has no knowledge of transfer talks, but did speak to Romero on Friday regarding his return to Spurs for pre-season.

"I texted with Cuti yesterday to make a plan for when he comes back to London," De Zerbi told reporters.

"[I did not speak to him about] the transfer market. That's not my job. I know there are many solutions in the transfer market."

Romero was absent in Sydney on Saturday, having been afforded a longer break following Argentina's run to the World Cup final, as Spurs beat Chelsea in a derby.

Richarlison scored in second-half injury time to secure a 2-1 victory, in what could be his final goal for the club.

De Zerbi confirmed after the game that Richarlison is unsure of whether he should stay at Tottenham as he ponders a possible summer exit.

"I like him as a player, as a guy," De Zerbi said of the Brazilian. "It's unbelievable the attitude and behaviour, but at the end we have to respect what he wants to do. And we know, every one of us knows what he wants to do.

"But, for me, he's still an important player, because it's not so easy to find another striker like Richarlison, because he scores goals ... he scored 12 goals last season, not through luck, because he feels the way to score.

"I don't know [if he wants to leave] ... there is not any problem, he's a lovely guy. All of us love him, the team-mates, the club, the staff, because he works hard every day, seriously every day."