Tottenham in Advanced Talks to Sign Andy Robertson on Free Transfer This Summer

When Andy Robertson confirmed last week that he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of his contract this summer, it ended the question of whether he would go. The question now is simply where. On current evidence, the answer appears to be north London, with Tottenham Hotspur in advanced talks over a free transfer for the Scotland captain.

Robertson departs Anfield having collected one Premier League title and the Champions League across nine years of outstanding service as one of the finest left-backs in the club's history. At 32, he remains an experienced, battle-tested operator, and that profile is precisely what Tottenham's recruitment team have been targeting as Roberto de Zerbi prepares for his first full season in the Spurs dugout. It is worth noting that Robertson's influence at Liverpool was never purely about his attacking output; his ability to set the defensive shape on that left flank and communicate aggressively across the back line made him an organisational asset as much as an attacking one, which matters considerably when assessing his value to a Spurs defence that has been alarmingly porous this season.

Sources indicate that while a full agreement has not yet been finalised, discussions between Spurs and Robertson's camp have progressed to an advanced stage. Tottenham's interest is not new. The club attempted to bring Robertson to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in January, only for Liverpool to decline to sanction any mid-season departure. That persistence now appears to be bearing fruit.

Leadership and Experience at the Heart of Spurs' Summer Plans

De Zerbi's arrival at Spurs brings with it a clear tactical identity and, reportedly, a strong desire to build a squad with genuine leaders running through it. Robertson, as Scotland's long-serving captain and a player who has operated at the highest level in club football for the better part of a decade, fits that brief squarely. Tottenham are understood to view him as a key addition rather than a peripheral one, someone expected to contribute meaningfully from the outset rather than provide cover from the bench.

There is also a broader strategic logic to the deal. Bringing in a free agent of Robertson's calibre allows Spurs to allocate transfer funds elsewhere while still upgrading their options at left-back. It is the sort of signing that requires little financial risk but carries considerable potential reward if Robertson can maintain his level of performance into his early thirties. That is not a given, but it is also not an unreasonable expectation: Robertson's game has always been built more on intensity of press, positional discipline and delivery than on the kind of explosive athleticism that tends to diminish sharply with age.

The Relegation Clause That Changes Everything

For all the momentum behind this transfer, there is one condition that sits over every element of the deal like a storm cloud: any agreement is contingent on Tottenham retaining their Premier League status. Spurs currently occupy 18th place in the table, sitting in the relegation zone two points behind 17th-placed West Ham with six matches of the season remaining.

The situation is precarious enough that it cannot be dismissed. Robertson has spent his career operating in the Champions League and competing at the summit of English football. The prospect of Championship football at 32 would almost certainly lead him towards alternative options, and there would be no shortage of them. Tottenham know that survival is not merely a sporting priority this month; it is the foundation upon which their entire summer transfer activity depends.

Romero Injury Adds Further Concern to Spurs' Outlook

Compounding the pressure on Spurs' final weeks of the season is the injury picked up by club captain Cristian Romero during Sunday's defeat to Sunderland. The Argentine centre-back was visibly distressed as he limped off following a collision with goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, and tests on Monday were set to determine the severity of the damage to his knee.

Romero's potential absence for the run-in would represent a serious blow to Tottenham's chances of clambering out of the bottom three. The 27-year-old is not only their most commanding central defender but also a key presence in the dressing room. Losing him now, with the fixtures that matter most still to come, would strip Spurs of the one player capable of imposing order on a backline that has already conceded far too freely this season. A significant injury would also put his place in Argentina's World Cup squad in jeopardy, adding personal stakes to an already fraught situation.

For De Zerbi, managing through this turbulent end to the campaign while simultaneously constructing the architecture of a summer rebuild is a considerable challenge. Securing Robertson's signature on a free would be a statement of intent and a symbol of where the club aims to be. Whether they are still in the division to make it happen is the matter that demands immediate attention.

Sources: Match and transfer information sourced from BBC Sport's senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel, published 14 May 2025.