Tottenham reach ‘agreement’ to sign €20m alternative to Man Utd target who is demanding transfer

Lewis Oldham
Tottenham to sign Vicario

According to reports, Tottenham Hotspur have ‘reached an agreement in principle’ with Serie A outfit Empoli over the signing of Guglielmo Vicario.

Spurs are in the market for a new number-one goalkeeper. After the 2022/23 season finished, it was confirmed that Hugo Lloris will be leaving the club this summer upon the expiry of his contract.

Tottenham have been heavily linked with David Raya, who has been superb for Brentford over the past couple of seasons.

The Spain international is out of contract in 2024 and it has been made clear of late that he is looking to leave Brentford this summer.

Man Utd and Spurs are understood to be admirers of him and it was claimed last week that he has already agreed personal terms with the London outfit. Raya recently openly called for Brentford to let him leave.

“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,” Raya said in an interview with The Times.

“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.”

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While Raya appeared to be a likely signing, 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 ‘waiting for a written offer’ and this is expected to arrive ‘in the coming hours’.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano adds: ‘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 and the 26-year-old has received a call-up for Italy but he is yet to make his debut.

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