Thomas Frank was recently sacked as Tottenham’s manager following Spurs’ defeat against Newcastle.
The Lilywhites have had a lot of uncertainties going around Hotspur Way for a while now, and the recent sacking of Thomas Frank has certainly not helped that. But the North Londoners could be bracing for yet another significant shift in the off-season, and it involves one of the starters at N17.
The Lilywhites goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is said to be actively pushing for a possible Tottenham exit, with a return to Serie A said to be his preferred destination.
Vicario to leave Tottenham on a discount?
There were reports of the 29-year-old not being settled with life in North London and being open to a possible return to his home country. Now Gazzetta dello Sport has come up with the latest reports fortifying Vicario’s position to leave Tottenham this summer.
At the moment Tottenham do value him for around €30m, given that he has a contract at the club till 2028, which makes their position quite strong technically. But the desire to jump ships can end up weakening the Lilywhites’ leverage, especially if the suitors smell a sense of opportunity (like many did with Dragusin last winter).
The report states the duo of Inter Milan and Juventus are both laying groundwork to sign him when the summer comes around. The former are looking to bring in long-term options to replace Yann Sommer, while the latter are facing this uncertainty surrounding Michele Di Gregorio, given that he is attracting interest from the English shores, and they see Vicario as an ideal replacement.
Both the clubs would be willing to sign him, especially so if Tottenham are open to compromise.
Author Opinion
While the Lilywhites will be pressured to sell, if they end up selling for less than the expected €30m, then it will be a clear indication of the pragmatic reset happening not only in the dressing room but across the board.
And while there have been a lot of questions around his long-term prospects at N17, the North Londoners shouldn’t forget that he (along with Romero, who is also linked with a Tottenham exit) is a big presence in the dressing room.
It is highly risky for Tottenham to sanction his exit, given the current state of the roster.
How big of a blow would it be for Vinai & Co. to let Vicario bid adieu to Hotspur Way irrespective of whether it comes on a discounted move or not? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.