-
News
- 44 minutes ago
Fabrizio Romano: Lukaku future, Cucurella message, Tonali and Anderson battle
Robin Bairner
- 1 Apr 2026 07:02 BST
- 6 min read
News
Fabrizio Romano gives updates on a massive story on Roberto De Zerbi, but also the latest on Sandro Tonali, Elliott Anderson, Marc Cucurella and Romelu Lukaku.
Roberto De Zerbi: New Tottenham manager
Roberto De Zerbi is Tottenham’s new manager, with a deal in place that will see him contracted to the club until 2031.
“And now it’s official, it’s done, it’s signed, it’s here we go,” Romano told his YouTube channel.
“Roberto De Zerbi is the new Tottenham Hotspur manager.
“Everything is agreed and confirmed. He takes the job immediately and has committed until June 2031, so a very long contract.
“There is no relegation exit clause. From what I am told, De Zerbi explained very clearly to the Tottenham board and players that he is fully committed to the project. If Tottenham were to go down to the Championship, he is ready to stay, fight, and rebuild.
“Of course, the main mission is to stay in the Premier League, then start a fresh new project next season. He will be among the top three best paid managers. in the league. A huge move, full commitment, and a new era starting at Tottenham. Good luck to Roberto De Zerbi.”
READ MORE: Can De Zerbi save Spurs? The evidence is worrying
Romelu Lukaku’s Napoli future under threat
Romano has revealed that a fallout between Romelu Lukaku and Napoli risks becoming something explosive.
He explained: “There has been tension between Lukaku and Napoli in recent days. Napoli wanted him to return from international duty, but Lukaku said he was not feeling well and stayed in Belgium. The club issued a statement confirming that he refused their call to return, and they are now evaluating possible action, even excluding him from the squad.
“We will see how this ends, but the relationship between Lukaku and Napoli looks increasingly difficult. At the end of the season, the feeling from both sides is clear: they could part ways if a good opportunity arrives.
“Napoli hope to solve things for now, as they still need the player, but both the board and Antonio Conte want discipline. So keep an eye on this story because Lukaku’s future could become one of the summer topics again.”
Current ETV
Romelu Lukaku
F (C)
Napoli
Romelu Lukaku
F (C)
Napoli
ETV Range
€11M - €13.5M
Truth behind Marc Cucurella’s Chelsea message
Marc Cucurella has been linked with a transfer out of Chelsea after recent interviews, but Romano has denied that this is the case.
He explained: “Yesterday in a press conference he was asked again about Barcelona, his former club, and he made it clear. He said he loves Barcelona as the team where he grew up, but he is fully focused on Chelsea.
“When pressed if he would ever consider going back, he said: ‘If Barcelona call, it is difficult to reject, but I am fully focused on Chelsea.’
“Then, in a new interview with The Athletic, Cucurella had some strong words about the club. He said that his relationship with Enzo Maresca was very good and he believed it was not the best choice to sack him mid season. He felt those decisions should wait until the end of the year.
“He also said the team has quality but needs more balance and experience after the losses in big matches such as against PSG.
“These are not negative comments about Chelsea, but rather a message from a player who feels responsible and wants to push the project forward. Cucurella remains one of the voices of the dressing room, a smart player who knows exactly what he is saying and why.”
Current ETV
Marc Cucurella
D (L)
Chelsea
Marc Cucurella
D (L)
Chelsea
ETV Range
€37.9M - €46.4M
Manchester United and City: Tonali and Anderson battle
Manchester United and Manchester City are battling over Sandro Tonali and Elliot Anderson, and Romano has clarified this situation for both players.
“There have been English reports suggesting Tonali was only on United’s radar a year ago and that his price remains too high. But my information is that contact has taken place this year, in February and March. United reached out to Tonali’s camp again to be informed about his situation and to understand Newcastle’s price and conditions,” he said.
“Arsenal have also made calls to be informed, and Manchester City continue to admire Tonali too, although their top target remains Elliott Anderson of Nottingham Forest.
“As I said last month, City have placed Anderson at the top of their list. Tonali is also included because Bernardo Silva is leaving, so they could sign more than one midfielder.
Compared
Elliot Anderson
M, DM (C)
N. Forest
Elliot Anderson
M, DM (C)
N. Forest
VS
Sandro Tonali
DM, M (C)
Newcastle
Sandro Tonali
DM, M (C)
Newcastle
|
|
ETV |
|
| €42.9M - €52.4M | ETV Range | €53.1M - €64.8M |
| 23 years old (06 Nov, 2002) | Age | 25 years old (08 May, 2000) |
|
England
|
Nationality |
Italy
|
“At the moment, United are not planning to pay anything crazy for Tonali. If the price is right, he is a serious option, but they will not overspend. The interest from both United and City in Tonali and Anderson is real, but still at an early stage.
“There are factors still to be settled:
- The prices and wage requests
- Who will manage Manchester United next season, with Michael Carrick still waiting for confirmation
- And Pep Guardiola’s situation, which is stable for now but still to be monitored.
“So, both Manchester clubs admire the same two players, but there is still a long way to go before bids or agreements happen.”
Related stories:
Transfer Rumours: Adam Wharton twist as Man Utd get €20m discount
Enzo, Cucurella and Palmer want out - Chelsea are officially in crisis
The FootballTransfers app
Check out FootballTransfers' new app for all of football's big storylines, transfer rumours and exclusive news in one convenient place directly on your mobile device.
The FootballTransfers app is available on Google Play and in the Apple App Store. Download here:
