Tottenham could face competition from London rivals Chelsea for the signing of highly-rated Premier League goalkeeper.
Tottenham Hotspur have started putting plans in place to bolster their squad in the upcoming transfer window.
The Lilywhites are currently battling relegation and find themselves on the brink of dropping into the Championship if new head coach Roberto De Zerbi doesn’t turn the club’s fortunes around quickly. He only has six games in hand to stop the North Londoners from suffering the ultimate embarrassment of going down.
It is evident that Tottenham require additional reinforcements in the summer. A lack of quality and leadership in defence is proving costly for the club. Starting from the last line of defence, Guglielmo Vicario has royally underperformed this season. He has made way too many mistakes and cost Tottenham several crucial points.
Recent reports suggest that the Italian goalkeeper has agreed personal terms with Inter Milan ahead of a summer move. Inter Milan views Vicario as an ideal successor to the ageing Yann Sommer, who is out of contract in the summer. Reputed journalist Fabrizio Romano has also revealed that the 29-year-old has had positive conversations with the Serie A side, adding that the Italian glovesman is expected to leave Spurs at the end of the season.
Tottenham face competition from Chelsea for Manchester City goalkeeper
Tottenham bosses have identified Manchester City’s James Trafford as a top target to replace Vicario ahead of the 2026/27 season.
The Hotspur Way chiefs are planning to push for the 23-year-old’s signature, and it is understood that James Trafford is open to joining the Lilywhites this summer to get his career back on track, even if they get relegated. However, after recent developments, it won’t be straightforward for Spurs.
According to a report from Spanish outlet Fichajes, Chelsea have entered the race for the signing of James Trafford. They have set their sights on the Manchester City goalkeeper to replace Robert Sanchez at the end of the campaign.
Trafford has struggled for regular opportunities after returning to Man City last summer. He has acted as a deputy to Gianluigi Donnarumma this season, but with the giant Italian international unlikely to lose his No.1 spot anytime soon, the 23-year-old might need to leave the Sky Blues for the second time in his career to play more often.
The English shot-stopper has a bright future ahead of him, but he needs to play regularly to fulfil his vast potential. A move away from the Etihad Stadium appears on the cards, with Chelsea now expected to battle Tottenham for his services. The report adds Man City value Trafford in the region of €25 million, and that price should be affordable for the London clubs.
As things stand, Chelsea will have an advantage over Tottenham in the chase for Trafford as they are hunting a Champions League spot. But, if we are to go by the claims that the England international is willing to swap City for Spurs even if they go down, then our club bosses will be hopeful of getting a deal over the line. He has experience of playing in the Championship with Burnley, which could prove valuable for De Zerbi and Tottenham if they are looking to return to the top flight at the first time of asking.