Tottenham Targets Emiliano Martinez After Vicario's Exit
Tottenham are wasting no time reshaping Roberto De Zerbi’s squad – and the next big move could be in goal.
Spurs turn to Martinez after Vicario exit
With Guglielmo Vicario heading to Juventus, Spurs have set their sights on Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez as a high-profile replacement, according to fresh reports.
The Italian goalkeeper’s departure accelerated at the start of the week. Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano confirmed on X that Juventus had agreed a deal with Tottenham, with Spurs accepting a loan offer that includes a non-mandatory option to buy. Vicario, 29, was keen on the move and is leaving the north London club for Turin.
David Ornstein backed up that line, reporting that Tottenham had accepted Juve’s proposal – a loan with an option to buy next summer – and that all parties expect the move to be completed. Crucially, Ornstein added that Juventus pushed ahead after calling off their pursuit of Martinez.
That decision has opened a door for Spurs.
Football Insider report that Tottenham have now “made a move” for the Aston Villa and Argentina No.1, whose own switch to Juventus recently collapsed. De Zerbi’s side are understood to be actively exploring a deal for the 33-year-old World Cup winner, even with young keeper Antonin Kinsky already at the club.
Villa, for their part, are described as “open” to letting Martinez go in this window, particularly after wrapping up a deal for Zion Suzuki from Parma. The same report suggests Suzuki is expected to walk straight into the starting XI for the 2026-27 campaign, clearing a path for Martinez to leave and potentially stay in the Premier League with Spurs.
For Tottenham, the stakes are obvious. They survived relegation only on the final day of last season. The response from the board has been aggressive: a flurry of signings designed to give De Zerbi a squad with far more backbone and quality.
Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke have arrived to strengthen the defensive line, with Robertson and Senesi both joining on free transfers from Liverpool and Bournemouth respectively, and Van Hecke costing £52m from Brighton. In goal, Martin Dubravka has come in from Burnley on a free, while the midfield has been heavily reinforced with big-money moves for Mateus Fernandes from West Ham at £85m and Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United at £92.5m.
The message is clear: last season’s flirtation with the drop will not be tolerated again. A proven, ultra-competitive keeper like Martinez would fit that mood perfectly.
De Zerbi stalls Moore loan as he waits for firepower
The rebuild is not just about arrivals. Spurs are trimming the squad, but De Zerbi is choosing his moments carefully.
One of the next outgoings is expected to be Mikey Moore. The highly rated winger, who spent last season on loan at Rangers, is on the brink of another temporary switch, this time to Cologne. BILD Rhineland, via Sport Witness, report that a season-long loan to the Bundesliga club is lined up.
Yet the move is not over the line. Not yet.
De Zerbi is said to be blocking the deal for now, unwilling to sanction Moore’s departure until Tottenham secure their own attacking reinforcements. He wants depth and options before he lets a young, versatile forward walk out the door, even on a temporary basis.
Cologne are understood to be relaxed about the delay. The expectation remains that the loan will eventually go through later in the window.
For Spurs, though, the pattern of the summer is unmistakable. A club that clung on to its Premier League status is now tearing into the market with intent – rebuilding its spine, reshaping its dressing room and, if they get their way, putting a World Cup-winning goalkeeper behind it all.
