Tottenham Hotspur
Premier League • England
Huge Tottenham keeper update: Deal reached ‘in principle’ for Serie A stopper to replace Hugo Lloris
Tottenham have reportedly ‘reached an agreement in principle’ with Serie A outfit Empoli over the signing of highly-rated Guglielmo Vicario this summer.
Spurs have been in the market for a new No.1 since last season came to an end after long-time club skipper Hugo Lloris confirmed he will be leaving when his contract expires at the end of June.
Brentford stopper David Raya has been their top target so far, with Manchester United are also chasing the Spain international while David de Gea continues to stall over a new Old Trafford contract.
Indeed, Raya recently went very public in his desire to move on from Thomas Frank’s side.
He told The Times: “There are some options for me to go but obviously Brentford are asking for a lot of money. That could make clubs not want to buy me, it could make them look somewhere else.
“But if that’s the value they give me then it’s up to them. I have a year left on my contract and until then I’m a Brentford player, there’s nothing I can do.
“I have ambitions to make the next step in my career. I want to try to win titles and to compete in Europe in the next couple of years. I’m 27 now and I feel like I’m at the point in my career when I want to make that step up. There are options out there but it’s not just my ambitions, the club also needs to let me go.”
New stopper on the way to Tottenham
And while Raya looked the clear and obvious replacement for Lloris in north London, Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio is reporting that a ‘verbal agreement in principle’ has been reached ‘between Empoli and Spurs for Vicario’s transfer on a €20m deal’.
The Serie A side are now said to be ‘waiting for a written offer’, which is expected to arrive in the ‘in the coming hours’.
Fabrizio Romano also weighed in on the Tottenham transfer news after the club had, earlier in the day, also been linked with Valencia star Giorgi Mamardashvili.
He added: “Tottenham have approached Empoli today for Guglielmo Vicario as new GK — talks taking place around €20m fee.
“Discussions will continue in the next hours and days — Giorgi Mamardashvili and David Raya remain on the list.”
Vicario has made 69 Serie A appearances for Empoli over the past two seasons. He has also been called up to the Italy senior squad but his yet to make his international debut.
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