Inter win race for Guglielmo Vicario after Tottenham keeper agrees terms

There’s a sense this one has been coming for a while. Inter Milan have moved decisively to secure Guglielmo Vicario, with the Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper now edging closer to a return to Serie A after what has been, at best, an uneven spell in north London.

For a player who arrived with a growing reputation after his time at Empoli, things in England never quite settled into a convincing rhythm.

There were flashes, moments where his shot-stopping reminded you why Spurs took the gamble, but just as often there were doubts. And in the Premier League, doubts tend to linger.

Back in Italy, though, the view has been rather different.

Why Inter stepped in early

Interest from both Juventus and Inter had been building for months. Italian clubs, perhaps more forgiving of inconsistency or simply more familiar with Vicario’s strengths, saw an opportunity where others might hesitate.

Inter, crucially, didn’t hang about.

Discussions have been ongoing for some time, and they’ve now reached the point where personal terms are in place. That, in most modern transfers, is the hard part done. The rest tends to follow.

Vicario himself has leaned towards Inter throughout, which matters. Juventus were watching closely, but preference often dictates pace in deals like this, and Inter have used that to their advantage.

There’s also a clear role waiting for him.

With Yann Sommer approaching the end of his contract and set to move on, Inter needed a successor. Not a short-term fix, but someone they can build around for a few seasons.

At 29, Vicario fits that profile neatly. Experienced, still in his prime years, and perhaps with something to prove after his time in England.

And if we’re being honest, that “something to prove” can be a powerful motivator.

A Tottenham exit that was decided months ago

What makes this situation more interesting is that Tottenham’s stance isn’t a reaction to recent events. The decision to move Vicario on was made internally back in January.

That tells you quite a bit.

It suggests the club had already reached its conclusion about his long-term suitability, regardless of how the second half of the season played out. Whether it was inconsistency, lack of command, or simply a mismatch with what they want stylistically, Spurs had seen enough.

He may well have already played his final game for the club, having been absent since that difficult afternoon against Nottingham Forest, followed by surgery to address a hernia issue.

Quiet exits like this are rarely dramatic, but they often say more than the noisy ones.

So where does that leave Spurs?

This is where things get a bit complicated, and, frankly, a bit uncertain.

Tottenham’s goalkeeping plans are tied closely to something far bigger: which division they find themselves in next season.

If things go badly and relegation becomes reality, the expectation is that Antonín Kinský would step up as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper. It wouldn’t be the boldest move, but it would be a practical one, leaning on what’s already in the building.

If they stay in the Premier League, though, the approach changes entirely.

Spurs are expected to look for a more established name, someone with pedigree and presence. Two names have already surfaced prominently.

One is Bart Verbruggen of Brighton & Hove Albion. Young, composed, and already proving himself at Premier League level, he ticks a lot of boxes. The issue? Brighton are not in the habit of letting key players go easily, and there are indications he could commit his future to the south coast instead.

The other is James Trafford, currently linked with a move away from Manchester City. Trafford’s situation is attracting attention from several clubs, with Liverpool also circling. That kind of competition rarely makes deals straightforward.

So Spurs could find themselves in a crowded market, chasing targets who are in demand and not easily prised away.

A summer that feels bigger than just one position

Vicario’s expected departure is more than just a routine transfer. It’s part of a wider reset.

Goalkeeper is one of those positions where stability matters. Change it, and it often signals a broader rethink. For Tottenham, this summer already feels like a turning point, both on and off the pitch.

They’re not just replacing a player. They’re trying to redefine a key role in the team.

And depending on how the rest of their season unfolds, the scale of that rebuild could shift dramatically.

Inter, meanwhile, have been far more decisive. They identified a need, moved early, and appear set to get their man.

From Vicario’s perspective, it might just be the reset he needs. A return home, a fresh start, and a chance to remind people why he was so highly rated in the first place.