Paul Scholes backs Manchester United move for Tottenham captain Cristian Romero

Paul Scholes has urged Manchester United to try to sign Tottenham captain Cristian Romero ahead of Atletico Madrid, despite describing the Argentina defender as “mad” and “an absolute clown”.

Romero, 28, is expected to leave Tottenham this summer after being given permission to join Atletico Madrid. The Spanish club are in intensive negotiations with the north London side, with only a few million pounds separating the two clubs in their talks.

However, Scholes believes Manchester United should attempt to hijack the proposed transfer as they look to strengthen Michael Carrick’s squad before the start of the new season.

Manchester United will return to the Champions League after finishing third in the Premier League last season, and Scholes believes central defence is an area that requires particular attention if the club are to make further progress.

The former England midfielder criticised Romero’s reckless and undisciplined style during his time at Tottenham, but nevertheless said the defender could prove popular with supporters at Old Trafford.

“This is one you might laugh at. Cristian Romero from Tottenham,” Scholes said while discussing possible Manchester United transfer targets on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast.

“I know it might sound ridiculous, but I think I’m a fan of him. I think he’s crazy. He’s a very good defender, but he does some stupid things. He’s a clown in every sense of the word,” he added, according to the Daily Mail.

Scholes continued: “He seems to be a really popular defender, really. I know it might sound strange, but I think the Old Trafford fans would love him.”

Despite his reservations about Romero’s decision-making, Scholes argued that Manchester United need defenders who can cope with the physical demands of the Premier League and remain available for a large number of matches.

“I think centre-back is probably the most important position that needs addressing. You need reliable defenders in the Premier League. Ideally, they need to be physically fit enough to play in most games,” he said.

Scholes then assessed Manchester United’s existing options in the position, saying: “Harry Maguire isn’t, but Martinez gets injured a lot… We have the young Ayden Heaven, who I think is a very promising talent, but he’ll still make mistakes. He’s young.”

Romero’s potential departure from Tottenham comes as Atletico Madrid continue to work towards an agreement with the Premier League club. The negotiations are understood to be close, although the two sides have not yet bridged the remaining financial gap.

Manchester United’s interest, as outlined by Scholes, would represent a different route for the defender, whose aggressive approach has attracted both criticism and admiration. The former Tottenham captain’s readiness to take risks has made him a controversial figure, but Scholes believes those same qualities could make him a favourite among Manchester United supporters.

The club are expected to continue exploring defensive reinforcements ahead of a campaign that will include Champions League football.