Tottenham Targets Emi Martinez After Vicario Departure
Tottenham’s rebuild under Roberto De Zerbi has taken another sharp turn, with the club now moving for Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez after signing off on Guglielmo Vicario’s departure to Juventus.
Spurs only just clung on to their Premier League status on the final day last season. The response from the board has been ruthless. They have flooded De Zerbi’s squad with new signings: Andy Robertson on a free from Liverpool, Marcos Senesi for nothing from Bournemouth, Jan Paul van Hecke in a £52m deal from Brighton, Martin Dubravka on a free from Burnley, Mateus Fernandes for £85m from West Ham and Sandro Tonali for £92.5m from Newcastle United.
The message is blunt. No repeat of last year’s relegation scare.
Vicario out, Martinez in?
The churn is not just about arrivals. It’s about clearing space and reshaping the spine of the team.
On Monday, transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano confirmed Vicario’s move to Juventus with his trademark “here we go”, reporting that Tottenham had accepted a loan offer with a non-mandatory option to buy. Romano added that Vicario wanted the move and was leaving Spurs immediately, giving Juve a new goalkeeper.
David Ornstein then backed up the story, explaining that Tottenham had accepted Juventus’ proposal – a loan with an option to buy the 29-year-old Italy international next summer – and that all parties expected the deal to be completed after Juventus dropped a separate pursuit of Martinez.
With Vicario heading to Turin, Spurs have moved quickly. Despite having Antonin Kinsky on the books, Football Insider report that the club have “made a move” for Aston Villa’s World Cup-winning keeper Martinez, whose own proposed transfer to Juventus recently collapsed.
De Zerbi’s side are now exploring a deal for the 33-year-old Argentina international as they prepare to lose Vicario. Villa, for their part, are understood to be open to letting Martinez leave this summer, having already secured Zion Suzuki from Parma.
The pressure finally told at Villa Park once Suzuki walked through the door. According to Football Insider, Suzuki is expected to come straight into the starting XI for the 2026-27 campaign. That scenario would push Martinez towards the exit and, potentially, across the Premier League to north London.
De Zerbi stalls Moore loan as he waits for firepower
While Spurs work on reshaping their goalkeeping department, another strand of De Zerbi’s rebuild is on hold.
Young winger Mikey Moore, who spent last season on loan at Rangers, is close to another temporary move, this time to Cologne. BILD Rhineland, via Sport Witness, report that the Bundesliga side are on the verge of securing him on a season-long deal.
Not yet, says De Zerbi.
The head coach is said to be blocking the move until Tottenham secure their own attacking reinforcements, unwilling to weaken his wide options before new forwards arrive. Cologne are reportedly relaxed about the delay, still expecting the loan to go through later in the window.
Spurs are changing shape at speed. A World Cup winner in goal, fresh legs across the pitch, and a coach determined not to lose talent before he replaces it. After last season’s brush with disaster, the question is no longer whether they’ll act.
It’s how far this overhaul can carry them.
