Tottenham’s hopes of recouping £20m from the sale of Guglielmo Vicario have taken a knock, after Fabrizio Romano reported that Juventus have made direct contact with Emiliano Martinez’s camp – confirming the Argentine as their preferred goalkeeper target, with Vicario listed merely as an alternative.
Vicario, 29, has been surplus to requirements at Spurs since Antonin Kinsky established himself as De Zerbi’s first-choice goalkeeper. A move back to Serie A appeared the logical destination, and Juventus had been widely cited as the frontrunner for his signature – making this update sting a little more than your average transfer complication.
Martinez First, Vicario Maybe
Romano, writing on X, was unambiguous about the hierarchy. According to the Italian journalist, Juventus made direct contact with Martinez’s representatives, with the Aston Villa keeper described as their “favourite target.” The sticking point is Villa’s asking price, which Juve currently consider too steep – at which point Vicario enters the picture as a more cost-effective fallback.
“Juventus had direct contact with Dibu Martínez’s camp today as Argentina GK remains the favorite target. Deal depends on Aston Villa request, still seen as too expensive + to be negotiated after World Cup. Another option is Guglielmo Vicario from THFC.” – Fabrizio Romano, via Spurs Web
Being someone’s contingency plan is rarely a strong negotiating position. Spurs had reportedly been targeting £20m for the former Empoli goalkeeper – a fee that would broadly recoup their original outlay – but that figure looks increasingly optimistic when the buying club is openly pursuing another player first.
Leverage Draining Away
The situation is compounded by the fact that Inter Milan have also withdrawn from the running for Vicario, according to Spurs Web, narrowing the field of credible Italian suitors considerably. Juventus are also reported to be monitoring Japan international Zion Suzuki, giving them yet another lever to keep Spurs’ asking price under pressure.
This is the kind of transfer dynamic that tends to erode fees quietly rather than dramatically. Vicario still has a contract running to 2028, which gives Spurs some theoretical leverage, but holding out for full value on a player who has slipped down the squad hierarchy is its own risk – particularly with the summer budget dependent on outgoings generating meaningful returns.
It would be one thing if Vicario’s stock had fallen due to form; it has not. He was part of a Spurs side that won the Europa League and his underlying quality is not in serious question. The problem is structural – he is the second goalkeeper at a club that can only sell him to one that wants him enough to pay properly, and right now, that club has a different name at the top of its list. Whether Villa’s demands soften post-World Cup, and how long Spurs are willing to wait, will determine whether that £20m target survives contact with reality.
