Tottenham have no plans to replace Antonin Kinsky with Martin Dubravka despite the goalkeeper’s early struggles under Roberto De Zerbi.
Amid a turbulent start to the 2026/27 campaign that sees Tottenham Hotspur sitting 18th in the Premier League table without a win in five matches, scrutiny has inevitably extended across the pitch to the goalkeeping department. Following back-to-back structural defensive collapses against Newcastle and Aston Villa, questions have emerged over whether Roberto De Zerbi might consider replacing 23-year-old Antonin Kinsky with veteran understudy Martin Dubravka.
However, according to an exclusive report by Football Insider, Tottenham have no intention of dropping Kinsky from the starting lineup. Despite a few shaky moments during the opening month, a switch between the posts is “not in the thoughts” of De Zerbi, who remains committed to developing the young Czech international into a top Premier League goalkeeper.
Underlying Metrics vs. Managerial Conviction
Kinsky’s underlying statistics highlight why external debate has surfaced. Through five Premier League appearances, Kinsky has recorded two clean sheets but holds a save percentage of just 60 percent, ranking him among the bottom five regular goalkeepers in the top flight. Furthermore, his goals-prevented metric stands at -1.73, indicating that Spurs have conceded nearly two goals more than expected based on the quality of shots faced.
Despite these numerical struggles, De Zerbi is refusing to backtrack after just five league fixtures. While 37-year-old Dubravka brings vast Premier League experience, having started 35 league games for Burnley last season, the Slovakian was brought in strictly as a backup rather than a direct competitor for the starting spot.
Tottenham’s goalkeeping hierarchy underwent a total overhaul during the summer window after the club lost patience with Guglielmo Vicario. De Zerbi was a central architect in appointing Kinsky as Tottenham’s new number one without signing a high-profile challenger, and he retains total confidence that Kinsky will grow into the role.
Beyond the goalkeeping situation, Football Insider also reports that Tottenham are actively formulating their strategy for the January transfer window, identifying the forward line as their top priority. Spurs intend to recruit a marquee striker who can “hit the ground running” to bolster an attack currently relying on Dominic Solanke and Omar Marmoush.
With Spurs having invested over £300 million during the summer window, financial regulations and FFP compliance dictate that mid-season spending must be balanced. As a result, Tottenham are planning to sanction senior player exits in January to generate funds and clear wage space for their target.
As De Zerbi prepares his squad for an October 10th showdown against Manchester United at Old Trafford, maintaining operational continuity in goal while planning mid-season structural upgrades reflects Tottenham’s attempt to navigate their current crisis with clarity and composure.
