Tottenham Pursues Emi Martinez as Vicario Joins Juventus

Tottenham’s rebuild under Roberto De Zerbi has taken another sharp turn, with the club 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. That brush with disaster has clearly rattled the hierarchy. This summer has been about shock therapy, not tweaks.

A frantic window in north London

So far, the recruitment drive has been relentless. Andy Robertson arrived on a free from Liverpool, bringing title-winning nous. Marcos Senesi followed, also on a free, from Bournemouth. Jan Paul van Hecke cost £52m from Brighton, while Martin Dubravka joined without a fee after leaving Burnley.

The midfield has been ripped up and upgraded with serious money. Mateus Fernandes came in from West Ham for £85m, and Sandro Tonali landed from Newcastle United for £92.5m. All of it designed to give De Zerbi the control and personality he demands from his teams.

Vicario out, Martinez targeted

On Monday, Fabrizio Romano delivered his trademark “here we go” on Vicario’s move to Juventus. Tottenham accepted a loan proposal with an option to buy, not an obligation, and the 29-year-old pushed for the switch.

Romano wrote on X that Vicario “wanted the move and leaves #THFC today. New goalkeeper for Juventus.”

David Ornstein backed that up, reporting that Spurs had accepted Juve’s offer – a loan with an option to buy next summer – and adding a key detail: Juventus only went for Vicario after calling off their pursuit of Martinez.

That collapse has opened a door for Tottenham.

According to Football Insider, Spurs have “made a move” for the Aston Villa and Argentina No.1, whose proposed transfer to Juventus recently fell through. De Zerbi’s side are now exploring a deal for the 33-year-old World Cup winner as they brace for life without Vicario.

Villa ready to move on

Crucially, Villa are understood to be open to letting Martinez leave in this window. The Midlands club have already secured Zion Suzuki from Parma, a signing viewed internally as a long-term solution.

The same report claims Suzuki is expected to go straight into the starting XI in the 2026-27 campaign, a clear signal that Villa are preparing for a future beyond Martinez. That timeline gives Spurs a narrow but real opportunity to bring the Argentine across the Premier League.

Tottenham do have Antonin Kinsky on the books, yet the club’s actions tell their own story. After last season’s late escape, they are not in the mood to gamble on potential in goal.

De Zerbi digs in over Mikey Moore

The goalkeeper situation is not the only live issue at Spurs. Out wide, Mikey Moore’s future is on hold.

The young winger, who spent last season on loan at Rangers, is close to another temporary switch, this time to Cologne. BILD Rhineland, via Sport Witness, report that a season-long loan to the Bundesliga side is all but lined up.

But there is a catch. De Zerbi is understood to be blocking the move for now, unwilling to sign off on Moore’s exit until Tottenham secure their own attacking reinforcements. He wants cover and competition in forward areas before he lets one of his brightest prospects leave again.

Cologne are said to be relaxed, expecting the deal to go through later in the window. Spurs, though, have more urgent fires to fight.

A club that survived by a whisker last season is trying to rebuild its spine in one summer. If Martinez walks out at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in August wearing their colours, it will be the clearest sign yet that De Zerbi’s Spurs intend to live a very different kind of life near the top of the Premier League table.