The decision-makers at Tottenham Hotspur appear to have reached a point of no return regarding the future of their number one goalkeeper. According to recent reports, the club has already made the firm choice to offload Guglielmo Vicario during the upcoming summer transfer window.
What makes this move particularly striking is that the hierarchy has reportedly reached this consensus regardless of who will be sitting in the manager’s dugout next season. While Igor Tudor is currently acting as the bridge to the future, the choice to move on from the Italian international is a directive coming straight from the boardroom, rather than a tactical preference from a specific coach.
The timing of this news adds another layer of tension to an already stressful period at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The club is currently locked in a desperate battle to maintain its Premier League status, with the poor form under previous manager Thomas Frank dragging them into the thick of a relegation scrap.
As they prepare for a high-stakes trip to face Fulham this Sunday, the reality is stark: Spurs sit just four points above West Ham United, who currently occupy the final relegation spot. The threat of a disastrous demotion to the Championship is no longer a distant worry; it is the central theme of their 2026 campaign.
Vicario is currently in his third season as the club’s primary shot-stopper, having joined from the Italian side Empoli in 2023. While he initially showed flashes of brilliant reflex saves, his tenure has been increasingly defined by a lack of physical command in the penalty area and a series of high-profile errors that have cost the team vital points.
At 29 years old, the Italian is reaching what should be his prime, but the Spurs hierarchy has seemingly seen enough to decide that he is not the man to lead them into a new era. For his part, Vicario is reportedly open to a return to his homeland, with Serie A giants Inter Milan being touted as a likely destination where he could rediscover his form in a more familiar environment.
The club’s plan to move on from a player earning approximately £95,000-a-week is a ruthless one, especially since it is being made before a permanent successor to Tudor has been appointed. Usually, the choice of a goalkeeper the foundation of any tactical system is left to the incoming manager.
However, the board is determined to land what they describe as a “top-class” replacement. One name that has surfaced as a preferred option is Robin Risser, the standout young goalkeeper from Lens.
Risser represents a shift toward a more modern, physically imposing style of goalkeeping that the Tottenham board feels is necessary for the rigors of English football.
| Tottenham’s Current Defensive Stability | Performance Metric |
| Clean Sheets (25/26 Season) | 4 |
| Goals Conceded per Game | 1.8 |
| Vicario Save Percentage | 64% |
| Points Above Relegation Zone | 4 |
Unfortunately for the Spurs faithful, Vicario might just be the first domino to fall in a massive summer exodus. The board is reportedly in a “state of panic” over the potential loss of their most valuable assets, particularly if the club fails to avoid the drop.
Micky van de Ven, the lightning-fast Dutch defender who has been a rare bright spot this season, is rumored to be looking for a move regardless of whether the club stays up or goes down. His departure would leave a gaping hole in a backline that is already struggling for consistency.
The situation is equally bleak when looking at other key figures. Reports from Argentina suggest that club captain Cristian Romero is preparing to end his time in North London this summer. Destiny Udogie, another young star who has attracted interest from across Europe, is also expected to seek a fresh start.
If the worst-case scenario unfolds and the club is relegated, the “jump ship” list grows even longer. The attacking core of the team, including James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Xavi Simons, and Dominic Solanke, would all likely seek exits to remain in top-flight football.
This creates a paradoxical situation for the club’s leadership. On one hand, they are trying to project a sense of forward-thinking ambition by identifying “top-class” replacements like Robin Risser. On the other hand, they are bracing for a reality where their entire starting eleven could be dismantled.
The decision to sell Vicario is a clear signal that the board is ready to be cold-blooded in their pursuit of a rebuild, but the sheer volume of potential departures suggests that the “Spurs project” is currently on very thin ice.
As the team prepares to walk out at Craven Cottage this weekend, the players are fighting for more than just three points; they are fighting for the future of the club.
Whether Vicario remains between the sticks for the final eleven games remains to be seen, but his fate has seemingly been sealed in the offices of Hotspur Way. The summer of 2026 promises to be the most transformative in the club’s recent history, for better or for worse.
