Tottenham Agree to Sell Goalkeeper Vicario to Inter Milan in £17m Deal
Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly agreed to sell goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario to Italian giants Inter Milan for a fee of £17 million, according to sources close to the negotiations. The move comes after a difficult season for both Vicario and fellow goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, with the north London club now facing the prospect of recruiting two new shot-stoppers this summer.
Vicario's Impending Departure to Serie A Champions
Italian international Guglielmo Vicario, who joined Tottenham from Empoli in 2023 and has served as the club's first-choice goalkeeper, is set to complete his transfer to Inter Milan in the coming weeks. The 29-year-old has made 116 appearances across all competitions for Spurs but has struggled for consistent form in recent campaigns, prompting the club to sanction his departure.
Inter Milan's sporting director Piero Ausilio was reportedly in London this week for crucial meetings, where he held discussions with Vicario's representative Valerio Giufridda. The Serie A champions have been actively seeking a long-term replacement for veteran goalkeeper Yann Sommer, identifying Vicario as their primary target.
Vicario has just over two years remaining on his current Tottenham contract, making the £17 million fee represent reasonable business for a goalkeeper approaching his thirties. His potential exit marks a significant shift in Tottenham's goalkeeping department ahead of the summer transfer window.
Kinsky Also Seeking Exit After Controversial Substitution
Meanwhile, backup goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky is also expected to leave Tottenham this summer, with the Czech international reportedly keen to secure a loan move to rebuild his career elsewhere. Kinsky's departure would compound Tottenham's goalkeeping crisis, forcing manager Igor Tudor to identify two new keepers before the start of next season.
The situation between the two goalkeepers reached a boiling point earlier this month during Tottenham's Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid. Manager Igor Tudor controversially substituted Kinsky after just 17 minutes, replacing him with Vicario in a move that saw the Czech goalkeeper storm straight down the tunnel at the Wanda Metropolitano.
When questioned about his decision, Tudor defended his actions, stating: "When you make this decision to change, you always lose. When you do that substitution after 15 minutes, the coach loses in both cases. First case, because you put him in so everyone says, 'Why are you doing this? You killed the guy.' If you don't, you are taking a risk to concede one or two more goals."
Tudor added that he would make the same decision again, describing it as "an act of helping to preserve the guy and to preserve the team." The incident has clearly strained relationships within the goalkeeping department, contributing to both players' desire to seek opportunities elsewhere.
Tottenham's Relegation Battle and Tudor's Selection Dilemma
Despite the ongoing transfer speculation, Igor Tudor is expected to continue selecting Vicario as his first-choice goalkeeper for Tottenham's crucial Premier League fixtures. The north London club currently sit 16th in the table, just one point above the relegation zone ahead of Sunday's vital showdown with Nottingham Forest.
The potential departure of both senior goalkeepers presents Tudor with a significant rebuilding challenge this summer. Tottenham will need to act swiftly in the transfer market to secure adequate replacements, with the club's Premier League status potentially hanging in the balance.
The £17 million fee for Vicario represents a substantial return on Tottenham's initial investment, but the club now faces the difficult task of restructuring their entire goalkeeping department while simultaneously fighting to avoid relegation from England's top flight.
