Tottenham work on signing 'top goalkeeper' as Guglielmo Vicario set to join new club
Tottenham Hotspur must be looking for a new goalkeeper with Guglielmo Vicario set to return to the Serie A.
That is according to former senior Tottenham scout, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
The 29-year-old is set to leave North London this summer after a season that was littered with mistakes.
Vicario has just two years remaining on his contract and is in talks to join Italian clubs Juventus and Napoli, having fallen out of favour at Tottenham.
The goalkeeper was injured towards the end of the season and returned to find that Antonin Kinsky had replaced him in between the sticks for Roberto De Zerbi.
Vicario had been a fan favourite before this season, but has faced jeers from Tottenham fans after several high-profile mistakes.
Tottenham must fix 'problem'
Vicario had started the season in fine form, delivering a standout performance against Manchester City in August.
As Tottenham's form dwindled, the Italian appeared to be the only thing holding them together, making 18 saves across the course of three games against Monaco, Everton and Chelsea.
But mistakes began to creep in, with Vicario's dismal error in a home defeat to Fulham in November drawing boos around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The 29-year-old would ultimately prevent -5.22 goals across the course of the Premier League season, a statistic that only Fulham's Bernd Leno performed worse in.
"It's strange that you're getting an Italian coach come in and he doesn't fancy the Italian keeper, does he? He'll probably move back to Italy," King told Football Insider.
"I think that's been a problem with them anyway, Spurs. Especially Vicario at times. His first season when he was in, he really kept Spurs in games.
"He looked as though he could be the solution, but then some of his performances, especially on crosses and stuff, he was very poor.
"I think they're both inconsistent. I think Spurs must be on the lookout for a really renowned, top goalkeeper."
What has Roberto De Zerbi said about Antonin Kinsky?
It remains unclear whether Tottenham will indeed sign a new goalkeeper, or whether they have chosen to back Kinsky.
It would be quite a turnaround for the 23-year-old, just months after he was substituted in the first half of a Champions League away tie against Atletico Madrid after making two massive mistakes.
"The biggest quality of Tony is the personality. Great personality after Madrid showed for his age an incredible character and we are happy he plays with us," said De Zerbi in May after a hard-fought draw with Leeds United.
"He’s improving a lot. He’s a good goalkeeper. I had no doubt in my first days in Tottenham because I knew him before coming here. He played in Madrid, he made that mistake, and it was tough for him.
"He has great personality, strong character and he deserves to play a game like today."