Tottenham should consider replacing the injured Guglielmo Vicario with Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier
Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery to his fractured right ankle, a club statement read.
The Italy international needed treatment after a first-half collision with Savinho in the 4-0 Premier League win against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday but was able to soldier on until the end of the game. He produced a couple of key saves to keep out Manchester City on Saturday, helping his team earn three valuable points away from home.
The shot-stopper, though, was seen limping as he left the Etihad Stadium, with Tottenham confirming on Tuesday a fracture which required an operation.
Guglielmo Vicario joined Tottenham from Italian side Empoli in June 2023, and has gone on to become a crucial player for Ange Postecoglou. The 28-year-old has missed just four games since arriving at the Hotspur Way—none of them in the Premier League. Veteran Fraser Forster has deputised on all four occasions and he is now likely to come into his side as cover.
Losing Vicario to an ankle injury just a couple of days after a resounding 4-0 success over Pep Guardiola’s Man City is a massive blow for Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham. His consistent presence between the sticks have been key in Spurs’ Premier League and Europa League campaigns, making his absence all the more worrying.
It is extremely frustrating for Big Ange and the fans to now lose Vicario for a certain period on the sidelines, having already seen many key players visit the treatment room at regular intervals this season. Forster has done a decent job whenever called upon but it is impossible not to worry about whether the ex-England international can produce the goods in every single game.
Earlier this month, reports suggested that Spurs were keeping an eye on LOSC Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier. The 23-year-old, widely regarded as one of the most promising goalkeepers in world football, was called up to the France squad for the UEFA Nations League fixtures in the recently concluded international break, illustrating his progress.
With several clubs monitoring his rise in stature at Lille, including Man City, Tottenham must up their ante and try to get Lucas Chevalier on board in January. The Lilywhites cannot depend on Forster to continue producing consistent performances as he is 36 and well past his prime. Josh Keeley is currently out on loan at Leyton Orient and doing well, while academy product Luca Gunter is not yet ready for men’s football.
Even if Vicario miraculously recovers in January, it will be tough to expect him to hit high standards straight away and show his quality. The Italian’s injury serves as a stark reminder of how thin Spurs’ goalkeeping depth is, and Daniel Levy must look to address it by signing Chevalier.
At 23, Chevalier is extremely young for a goalkeeper with room for improvement. However, he has shown his massive potential with classy performances in Lille colours this season, conceding only 11 goals and keeping six clean sheets in 12 Ligue 1 games so far. The Frenchman is already rated among the best goalkeepers in Ligue 1, highlighting he has a bright future in the game.
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Lille would be in a strong negotiating position if Spurs came calling for Chevalier’s services in 2025, as the 23-year-old has a contract running until June 2027 (Transfermarkt).
With games set to come thick and fast over the upcoming weeks and months, Tottenham must show their ambition to compete in every competition by signing the highly-rated Chevalier in January. Not only could he prove to be a sound long-term investment but also challenge Vicario for the No.1 spot when he recovers from ankle surgery.
