Tottenham are eyeing a January move for Burnley star James Trafford
Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a body blow as No.1 Guglielmo Vicario has been ruled out for months following an ankle surgery.
The 28-year-old suffered an ankle fracture during Spurs’ 4-0 rout of Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday. He picked up a knock around the half-hour mark but soldiered on and completed the full 90 minutes, producing a string of top saves to help his side win against Man City.
This perhaps exacerbated the problem and Guglielmo Vicario had no option but to go under the knife. The Italy international underwent ankle surgery on Tuesday and is now expected to be sidelined for several months, which poses a significant problem for head coach Ange Postecoglou.
Vicario has been a key part of the Lilywhites’ backline since he arrived at N17 from Empoli in June 2023. He is not just an excellent shot-stopper but is also crucial to the way Tottenham play out from the back under Ange Postecoglou, given his composure and ability with the ball at his feet. His absence severely weakens Spurs as Fraser Forster doesn’t have the quality to replace the Italian in Big Ange’s first XI.
Thus, Spurs have started looking at Vicario’s potential replacements in the New Year. According to talkSPORT Transfer Notebook’s exclusive report, Tottenham are considering a move for Burnley’s James Trafford in the January window.
Big Ange is facing a predicament entrusting Forster with the No.1 jersey during Vicario’s absence. Whilst the ex-England international is experienced and has played at the highest level before, the fact of the matter is he is well past his prime at 36. This has potentially opened the door for a new recruit to walk in at the Hotspur Way.
The aforementioned report adds James Trafford would also be keen on returning to the Premier League, having suffered relegation with Burnley last season. The former England Under-21 international, who moved to Turf Moor from Manchester City in 2023, made 28 top-flight appearances but couldn’t help the Clarets from getting relegated.
The Carlisle-born talent has enjoyed a strong season in the Championship, leading a strong defensive unit built under Scott Parker. Trafford has made 16 league appearances, keeping an eye-catching 10 clean sheets and conceding only six goals. The Englishman’s performances are one of the prime reasons why Burnley are second in the Championship table and early contenders for promotion.
The timing of Vicario’s injury couldn’t be worse, with Tottenham, set to face a packed schedule in the coming months, including big league games against Fulham, Chelsea and Liverpool as well as a juicy Carabao Cup quarter-final tie against Manchester United.
More Tottenham News
- Tottenham midfielder’s surprise January return tipped despite potential £22m loss
- Premier League club set to offer £9m+ deal for Tottenham outcast
- Tottenham offer update on summer signing after surgery to address hamstring issue
Big Ange simply cannot rely on Forster to cover all the games, so Daniel Levy and Co. would do a wise job by going all out for Trafford even if it means paying a bit over the odds to persuade Burnley into selling their prized assets midway through their important season.
