At a glance:
- Gugliemo Vicario to leave Tottenham
- Spurs linked with Bart Verbruggen
- Liverpool also keeping tabs on Dutchman
After three seasons in North London, Guglielmo Vicario looks set to leave Tottenham at the end of the season.
And according to TEAMtalk, Spurs’ tailor-made replacement for the Italian could now be headed elsewhere.
Vicario has a verbal agreement with Inter Milan, with the Serie A giants looking for a long-term replacement for Yan Sommer.
Tottenham have a firm interest in Bart Verbruggen, who Roberto De Zerbi knows quite well due to his previous stint with Brighton.
However, reports from England suggest Liverpool are quietly positioning themselves to enter the race for the Dutchman.
Liverpool aware of Bart Verbruggen’s situation
Our colleagues at Read Liverpool have covered Juventus’ interest in Alisson Becker in detail.
The Brazilian goalkeeper could leave Anfield after eight seasons at the club, which could create a vacancy between the sticks.
The Reds already have Giorgi Mamardashvili at the club but will still need another goalkeeper to provide cover and competition for the Georgian.
And that’s where Verbruggen comes in. The aforementioned TEAMtalk report claims that Liverpool are aware of the Dutchman’s situation as they continue to sound out players to add to their goalkeeping ranks.
Verbruggen is believed to be ‘firmly’ on the Reds’ radar, with their backroom staff doing a lot of groundwork on his potential signing in recent weeks.
This is obviously bad news for Tottenham as the Brighton goalkeeper is also high up on their list.
And with the Reds able to offer him the prospect of UEFA Champions League football next season, it remains to be seen if he chooses a reunion with De Zerbi over a high-profile switch to Anfield.
Tottenham can pivot to James Trafford
De Zerbi described Verbruggen as an important part of his Brighton side when he was at the helm at the Amex Stadium, so he clearly rates the Dutchman highly.
However, Tottenham won’t be short of options to replace Vicario if the Brighton goalkeeper moves to Liverpool or another club.
Manchester City’s James Trafford has been linked with a move to N17, with the Englishman currently behind Gianluigi Donnarumma in the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium.
He’s a supremely talented goalkeeper in his own right and should fit right in at Tottenham.
Trafford’s potential arrival would also help Tottenham add another homegrown player to their ranks, which could prove to be invaluable in terms of overall squad planning.
De Zerbi won’t be short of options to bolster his ranks between the sticks. Whether it is Verbruggen, Trafford, or someone else, the message is clear: Tottenham need to back their manager and get him the players he wants to become a force to be reckoned with again.
