Tottenham remain in the hunt for a reliable goalkeeper to replace Guglielmo Vicario next season.
Tottenham Hotspur No.1 Guglielmo Vicario has been recuperating from hernia surgery and attempting to recover in time to play some part in the season’s conclusion. Behind the scenes, reports suggest he has agreed to join Inter Milan in the summer.
Inter Milan have been confident of signing Vicario for a while now as a potential replacement for Yann Sommer. They must now reach an agreement with Tottenham for the shot-stopper’s transfer. Spurs bosses may have been wary about the ongoing Vicario links with Inter Milan for months and must find a quality replacement ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Staying in the Premier League would allow the Lilywhites to attract goalkeepers from top clubs. Manchester City’s James Trafford has emerged as a top target to replace Vicario next season. Tottenham are planning to push for the Englishman’s signature, but his pursuit won’t be straightforward.
James Trafford has no shortage of suitors
According to a report from iNews, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Newcastle United have all shown interest in James Trafford.
Aston Villa have already started groundwork on a deal for the Manchester City man, making contact with the goalkeeper over replacing Emi Martinez. Newcastle United are keen to sign a new goalkeeper following Nick Pope’s underwhelming displays this season, and they have identified Trafford as their chief target. As for Chelsea, they’d be tempted to land the England international if he is available for a reasonable price.
The report adds that Trafford is open to a move away from the Etihad Stadium this summer. A fee of around £40m could be enough to tempt the Sky Blues into letting their second-choice goalkeeper go.
Having played as a deputy to Gianluigi Donnarumma on his return to Man City last summer, the 23-year-old has majorly featured in domestic cup competitions this season. Pep Guardiola decided to stick with Trafford between the sticks against Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Saturday, and he repaid the faith by keeping a clean sheet.
Tottenham faces a battle to persuade Trafford to move to N17
Trafford is a highly-regarded goalkeeper in the English circuit. His potential is high, and the glovesman has demonstrated that with his displays at Burnley. To unlock his true potential, the 23-year-old requires regular game time, right mentoring and a sustainable development model.
As long as Donnarumma is present, Trafford’s minutes at City will remain blocked. He will have to be content with playing a second-fiddle role to Donnarumma, which a youngster of such high ceiling cannot afford to do. The England international has to leave his boyhood club for the second time in his career to seek regular minutes, and Tottenham could be an ideal destination.
As Vicario inches closer towards the exit door, Spurs can certainly offer Trafford a guaranteed starting position in the near term. However, at this moment, the likes of Chelsea, Villa and Newcastle remain ahead in the race, purely because they are assured of playing in the Premier League next season.
Until and unless the Lilywhites clinch their top-flight status, they will not be able to compete with their rivals for the City shot-stopper’s signature.