Vicario had emerged as one of the best goalkeepers in the Italian top flight in his two seasons at Empoli and unsurprisingly, it was reported during the summer that the 27-year-old attracted interest from a couple of Italian giants over the summer, including Juventus and Inter Milan (One Football).

However, it was Tottenham who won the race for the Italy international, striking a £17m deal for the shot-stopper, which already looks like a huge bargain.

Vicario has hardly put a foot wrong since his move to N17 and he admitted in an interview to Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Italia) last week that he did not have any second thoughts about joining Spurs as soon as the Lilywhites expressed their interest.

BURNLEY, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 02: Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario reacts during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Turf Moor on September 02, 2023 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Tottenham stole a march on Guglielmo Vicario deal

Kelly revealed that a couple of Italian sides hesitated to sign the Tottenham number one in the summer, which allowed Ange Postecoglou’s men the chance to swoop in.

The journalist said on The View From the Lane podcast: “I spoke last night to Daniele Fisichella the Italian football journalist about him and the chances of him replacing the apparently irreplaceable Donnarumma in the Italian team.

“He says his cap is coming soon. But, he was on the radar of the big Italian clubs during the summer and they were all a bit shocked when Spurs swooped in and got him.

“They were hesitating because two of them had goalkeepers that they thought were very good and it would just upset the apple cart to bring in an even better one. The rest of them thought that he would be commanding a transfer fee and wages that Italian clubs at the moment just can’t [afford].”

Spurs Web Opinion

A lot of Spurs fans were not happy when the club decided to sign Vicario over David Raya, with many viewing it as the club taking the cheaper option.

The recruitment department and Postecoglou deserve huge credit for deciding to take a gamble on a goalkeeper who has no Premier League experience under his belt.

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While Schwarzer did preface his comments by stating that Vicario has started really well for Spurs, his comments will still raise a few eyebrows around North London.

After ten games of the new Premier League season, not only are Tottenham two points clear at the top of the table, but Vicaro is also leading the way in save percentage.

The Italian shot-stopped has saved 82.9% of the shots that have come his way (FBRef), compared to the chasing pack of Alisson (76.9%), David Raya (75%) and Ederson (68.4%).

He also has the joint most clean sheets (4) with Sam Johnstone, David Raya, Ederson, and Nick Pope, which is impressive considering all four of those players have been in the Premier League for years.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Italian goalkeeper #13 Guglielmo Vicario shouts at teammates during the English Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park in south London on October 27, 2023. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

Vicario still has his doubters despite Spurs start

Vicario has taken to Tottenham life like a duck to water, both in his shot-stopping and his playing out from the back, which is crucial to Ange Postecoglou’s system. But it appears Mark Schwarzer still needs some convincing.

He said (Mark and Phil’s Derby Adventures podcast): “Look, I think he’s done really well, I really do.

“I think he’s done really, really well. I want to see how it goes on further into the season.

“I hold my hands up, yes, so far, he’s done well but there are still question marks in my head about whether or he is the right goalkeeper for them moving forward.

“At the moment yes, it’s all positive, all working fine for him. I’m not quite sure just yet, but he has had a good start to the season.”

Spurs Web Opinion:

This sounds very much like Schwarzer clutching at straws to defend a prediction he made earlier in the season. It sounds like he is looking at Vicario and waiting for him to mess up.

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A lot has been made of Tottenham’s improvement going forward, with the Lilywhites having found the back of the net 22 times in their first ten Premier League games of the season.

Understandably, new signing James Maddison, who has three goals and five assists so far, has received a lot of praise, given the amount of creativity he has brought to the side.

However, Spurs also have the joint-best defensive record this season, having conceded just nine goals, which is quite astonishing when one considers the fact that they had one of the leakiest backlines in the division last season.

A lot of that improvement is arguably down to the arrival of Van de Ven, who has slotted in seamlessly at the back and formed a formidable partnership with Cristian Romero.

(Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

How good could Micky van de Ven become at Spurs?

Vicario, who has also been partly responsible for Spurs’ improved defensive record, insisted that the sky is the limit for the 22-year-old centre-back.

The goalkeeper told Spurs Play: “Micky is amazing. He’s one of the fastest defenders I’ve ever seen. It’s unbelievable. And he’s a hard-working player, I think his attitude and mentality is the best part of him. 

“He’s also a technical player as well. He has all the qualities to become one of the best centre-backs in the world.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Very rarely is a player who is as big and physically dominant as Van de Ven glide so quickly across the turf as the Dutchman does. That combined with his technical quality on the ball undoubtedly makes him one of the best young defenders in world football.

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Vicario had been one of the standout goalkeepers in the Serie A over the last couple of seasons at Empoli, with Jose Mourinho even labelling him ‘the best goalkeeper in the world’ after his display against Roma last year (Goal).

Unsurprisingly, the 27-year-old reportedly attracted interest from a couple of Italian giants over the summer, including both Juventus and Inter Milan (One Football).

However, it was Tottenham who won the race for the Italy international, striking a £17m deal for the shot-stopper, which already looks like a huge bargain.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Italian goalkeeper #13 Guglielmo Vicario shouts at teammates during the English Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park in south London on October 27, 2023. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

Vicario had no doubts about joining Tottenham

Vicario has now spoken about his summer move, admitting that he is loving life in the Premier League at the moment.

The Spurs number one told Gazzetta dello Sport (as relayed by Sport Italia): “This was what I wanted and I didn’t want to listen to anything else. As soon as I knew there was an opportunity to come here I would have signed in blood, I would have come on foot from Italy.

“I am very happy to play in the most beautiful league in the world. I tell myself this every day, as soon as the alarm goes off in the morning: go to the field because there is a game to play in the most beautiful championship in the world.”

Vicario also spoke about the impressive start that Tottenham have made to the new project under Ange Postecoglou, admitting that he and his teammates are focused on continuing their momentum

The goalkeeper added: “I arrived with great desire and without setting limits. I entered into a different mentality, both for myself and for the team: it is the one that Postecoglou also brought this year, one that sees us all participating and involved with a great team spirit.

“I think that for the moment the fruits of the work are being seen, but we will evaluate later. We need to keep pushing because now the iron is hot and needs to be struck.”

Spurs Web Opinion

It would have been easy for Vicario to stay in his comfort zone and move to a Serie A side. His decision to come over to the Premier League and challenge himself says a lot about his personality.

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Tottenham had to dig deep and find new ways to win the game tonight at Selhurst Park, as a well-structured Crystal Palace side made life difficult for Ange Postecoglou‘s men.

While Spurs dominated possession as usual, the expansive and free-flowing football we have come to expect was restricted by Palace. The away side were actually limited to their fewest shots in a game this season, which tells you all you need to know about Palace’s game plan.

The breakthrough for Tottenham came fairly early in the second half, after James Maddison drilled a dangerous ball into the box for Joel Ward to divert into his own net.

Heung-min Son then bagged his eighth goal of the season (Transfermarkt) and it was Maddison once again who helped create the opportunity, with Brennan Johnson providing the assist after fine footwork from the Spurs number 10.

Tottenham had to batten down the hatches late on after Jordan Ayew pulled one back for Palace, but it’s another three points for Spurs and the North London side go into the weekend five points clear at the top of the league.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Italian goalkeeper #13 Guglielmo Vicario shouts at teammates during the English Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park in south London on October 27, 2023. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

Spurs grind out a win against Crystal Palace

Commenting on the result and the performance, Guglielmo Vicario explained how Spurs managed to secure the win.

He told Sky Sports (27/10/23 at 10:30 pm): “Yeah I think we have to be happy for tonight because it was a tough game. We saw in the first half they play compact so we can’t find the right line to pass the press. But we maintain focus and in the second half we show what we can do.

“But maybe [we need] to stay a bit more concentrated in the last minutes. We have to stay focused for 100 minutes because just a little [lapse] can compromise a big win. We can enjoy this weekend and prepare for the next match.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I think we showed great resilience to find the breakthrough, and once we got going we probably should have killed the game with a third goal. We were unlucky to see the clean sheet go, but three points is three points, and it’s a fantastic start to the weekend.

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Even though Vicario had been a standout performer in Serie A for Empoli over the last two seasons, he was a relative unknown to Premier League fans when he arrived at the club.

Some Spurs fans were not overly pleased with the signing, with many seeing it as the club taking the cheaper option rather than signing David Raya from Brentford.

However, the 26-year-old has hardly put a foot wrong since arriving at the club and has proven to be a great shot-stopper and reliable with the ball at his feet.

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 19: Guglielmo Vicario of Tottenham Hotspur celebrate during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on August 19, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)

Why has Guglielmo Vicario been such a success?

Goalkeepers from Spain and Italy have sometimes not found it easy to settle into the Premier League and when Postecoglou was asked why Vicario is an exception to the rule, he told Football.London: “Hard for me to say.

“I sometimes think we stereotype people and I have been one who has been trying to break the notion that because a certain player or individual has come from a certain place that he will struggle.

“They are all individuals. That is why I have always recruited from different parts of the world and not worried about it.

“My Celtic experience of people saying that ‘players from Japan will find it hard to adjust’ and because I don’t look at it as a player from Japan and I don’t look at Vic as a goalkeeper from Italy.

“I saw Vic as a person, as a goalkeeper who had outstanding attributes. And after speaking to him as a person I thought that he will fit in perfectly because he did not come trying to prove a point. He came here to be the best goalkeeper he could possibly be.”

Postecoglou explained that Vicario is determined to improve on the training ground every single day and revealed that the new Spurs number has built a strong with the goalkeeping coach Rob Burch and the others at the club.

The Australian continued about the Italian: “He comes in every day wanting to improve and he has got great self-belief but at the same time a humility around him and he wants to work hard every day.

“He is in here every day and if we have a day off he is the one player who comes in to do something. And when you have people like that coupled with his attributes as a goalkeeper they give themselves a good chance be successful and to fit in comfortably. It is a great environment for him.

“Rob Burch has got a great relationship with him and that is very important for the position as it is the one position where that one-on-one relationship with the coach is important.

“That is the one question which Vic asked me before he signed was ‘who is the goalkeeping coach going to be’ as he knew that would be important.

“Rob has created a great environment. Vic has the fortune of training with guys like Fraser [Forster] who is unbelievable training, his attitude, work ethic, his quality, it will raise Vic’s quality as well.

“Young Brandon Austin is improving all the time. And he has got a legend of the club and one of the greatest goalkeepers ever beside him.

“A lot of it is being driven by him wanting to be better. When we signed him I was not looking at him as a risk as he was as a foreign goalkeeper, I don’t look it as that way.”

When asked if there was something in particular about Vicario that appealed to him, Postecoglou said: “No. It was kind of my priority was that if we were going to sign a keeper, then we need to do it early.

“We need to get him in pre-season so those kind of things. West Ham he conceded a couple of goals and he had no saves to make.

“To build confidence with goalkeepers you want to make saves but he worked through that process. That was really important for us. It would have been more of a challenge for us if we signed him on the eve of the season. The club was great in ensuring that we got him in early. That helped us.”

Spurs Web Opinion

There is no doubt that the club’s recruitment decisions this summer were spot on, with the likes of Maddison, Van de Ven and Vicario hitting the ground running.

However, that is also because of the kind of first-team environment that Ange has created, with the players evidently finding it easy to settle in.

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Signing a new goalkeeper was of the utmost importance for Tottenham this summer. After the downfall of former number one and club captain Hugo Lloris, it was clear that Ange Postecoglou needed someone he could trust between the sticks.

For a long time, it seemed David Raya would be the solution to that problem, but when a move for the Spaniard fell through, Spurs moved quickly to snap up Guglielmo Vicario from Empoli in a £17.2m deal (Sky Sports).

The Italian stopper had a relatively shaky start on his debut in the 2-2 draw against Brentford on the opening day, but has not looked back since.

Vicario has pulled out some huge saves to help Spurs maintain their unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign, and is now coming off the back of two clean sheets in a row after the 2-0 win over Fulham on Monday night.

ENFIELD, ENGLAND – JUNE 27: Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario poses as he signs for Tottenham Hotspur at Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre on June 27, 2023 in Enfield, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)

Is Guglielmo Vicario Tottenham’s best signing?

Speaking to ESPN, Michallik explained how Vicario had been underestimated by many when he arrived at Spurs, but is proving all those people wrong now.

He said: “It’s easy to point at James Maddison, all the goals and how they’re scoring in so many different ways. But defensively what he’s done is even more impressive. They’re the second-best defensive team.

“Look at Vicario – Google probably went down when Vicario came to London because nobody paid attention to who he was, but, today, we’re talking about Sanchez, Onana and Raya, here you have Vicario who is excellent.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I have to admit, I was a bit sceptical about Vicario when we first signed him. I knew he was decent, but I thought he might struggle in his first year and take some time to adjust, but he has been phenomenal.

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It is fair to say that Tottenham’s decision to sign Vicario from Empoli in the summer was not universally popular among the supporters, with many feeling that the club took a cheap option rather than signing Brentford’s David Raya.

However, the Italian has quickly won over the Spurs faithful and has already shown that he is more than capable of filling Hugo Lloris’ shoes.

The 26-year-old’s impressive decision-making on the ball has helped Ange Postecoglou’s men build out from the back while he has also showcased his excellent shot-stopping ability.

(Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Vicario is impressing his Spurs teammates

Vicario made some sharp saves in both halves against Fulham on Monday, keeping yet another clean sheet, and Maddison admitted that he has been impressed with the new Spurs number one from the first time he walked through the door.

The attacking midfielder told BBC Sport about the goalkeeper: “To be fair I thought his save in the first half was better from the corner, from Palhinha’s header, that was top-drawer.

“After that, he probably wasn’t really worked until the latter stages and the moment you talked about and it was a fantastic save again. He’s been brilliant since he came in, Vic. Hopefully, he can continue that form for us.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Tottenham’s recruitment department deserves huge praise as they have hit it out of the park with the signings of Micky van de Ven and Vicario, who have both settled in seamlessly to life at Spurs and in the Premier League.

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Fulham were the visitors to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this week, but they left empty-handed as Ange Postecoglou‘s men cruised to a comfortable victory over the Cottagers.

The result saw Tottenham extend their unbeaten run in the league to nine games, and the three points took the Lilywhites back to the top of the table.

Spurs are now two points clear of Manchester City and Arsenal, and have a chance to go five clear if they beat Crystal Palace on Friday.

A stunning first-half goal from Heung-min Son got Spurs on their way, before the captain turned provider for James Maddison to bag his first goal on home turf in the second half.

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 19: Guglielmo Vicario of Tottenham Hotspur celebrate during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on August 19, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)

Vicario and Maddison impress again for Spurs

In his regular selection for the BBC, Garth Crooks selected both Maddison and the Spurs stopper, Guglielmo Vicario, for his team of the week.

On Vicario, Crooks said: “What a save by Vicario from Joao Palhinha’s header in the opening exchanges against Fulham. The save was an important one and set Spurs up for their second clean sheet in consecutive games.

“Clean sheets win titles and whilst I am not suggesting for one minute Spurs will win the league, they currently sit two points clear at the top of the table and deservedly so. Vicario has finally brought a calm stability back to the Tottenham penalty area.”

And, on Maddison, he added: “This player was made for this club. Not since Christian Eriksen have Spurs had a real football technician in midfield. He scored his first goal at home for the club against Fulham but this is a player who should be scoring on a far more regular basis.

“He does however have the ability to carve open the opposition almost at will and create openings for others to put the ball in the back of the net. He’s a lovely footballer and has Spurs playing proper football again.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I have to say I’m a little surprised by Vicario’s inclusion, as he looked a little bit shaky against Fulham and nearly made a big mistake in gifting them a way back into the game.

That said, his saves were excellent and you can’t argue with a clean sheet. As for Maddison, what more can we say, he’s an absolute star.

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Vicario certainly has big shoes to fill at Spurs, with Lloris undoubtedly being the best goalkeeper the club has had in the Premier League era.

Despite showing signs of decline over the last couple of years, the former Spurs captain is still a highly respected figure in N17 and will be remembered by the supporters as one of the biggest modern-day legends.

Lloris was expected to leave the club this summer after admitting back in July that he is seeking a new challenge away from the English side (Nice-Matin).

To people’s surprise, the 36-year-old remained put at Tottenham, although he appears unlikely to make an appearance for the Lilywhites again, with Fraser Foster seemingly being Ange Postecoglou’s preferred backup to Vicario.

BURNLEY, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 02: Guglielmo Vicario of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Turf Moor on September 02, 2023 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Hugo Lloris is still lending a hand at Tottenham

The new Spurs number one has now admitted that Lloris has been of great help to him around the training ground.

Vicario told Sky Sports Football Daily: “I have to respect Hugo for his big career here at Spurs, and also with France because he achieved a lot of trophies and reached a lot of finals. So big respect for him, he’s a big guy.

“He helps me a lot during training. It’s good for me because this is my first year abroad so new culture and, a new way to play football. The Premier League is different from Italy so it’s a big pleasure for me to train with him. So many, many thank yous for what he’s doing for me.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Hugo is an absolute gentleman and one would not expect anything different from him. Even though he has now become a peripheral figure at the club, it would still be a sad moment when he eventually exits the club, which one would expect him to do in January. 

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We may be just eight games into the new campaign, but things are looking good for Tottenham. New manager Ange Postecoglou has got the team playing exciting football, and most importantly, winning games.

With six wins and two draws from the first eight games, Spurs are one of two teams to remain unbeaten (the other being Arsenal). 

Reigning champions Manchester City have now lost two games, and many predict the title race this year could be more open, with teams like Spurs potentially challenging.

A large part of Tottenham’s success has been built on stability at the back, with Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven forming a solid partnership in defence, and Guglielmo Vicario proving to be a safe pair of hands in goal.

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 19: Guglielmo Vicario of Tottenham Hotspur celebrate during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on August 19, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)

Guglielmo Vicario is not getting carried away

The new Spurs number one is enjoying the positive start but is not letting it all get to his head, and has told Football Daily he and the rest of the players are intent on staying focused through the entire campaign.

On the recent victories, he said: “These moments can stay with you for life. You can record those images, when the stadium almost literally falls down… you never forget.

“Thank you to the fans. And it’s good that they can dream big. But now we have to be focused and be prepared for the reality… to prepare for the next game, and after Fulham, focus on the next game. This is our mentality, because we have to stay humble and focused… the season is long.”

Spurs Web Opinion

We are all enjoying the moment right now and long may it continue. No matter what happens this season, though, if the team keeps playing the way they are, I think a lot of fans will be very happy.

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The defence was a major worry for Spurs last season, with the Lilywhites conceding a whopping 63 goals in 2022-23, which was more than any other side in the top 14.

A lot of those goals were down to unforced errors at the back, and unsurprisingly, the backline has been revamped this season, with Vicario taking over the gloves from Hugo Lloris, while Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie have established themselves as mainstays in the side.

Spurs have improved considerably at the back this season, having conceded just eight goals in their first eight matches this season, despite adopting an ultra-attacking approach and playing with a high defensive line under Ange Postecoglou

(Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)

Gary Mabbutt is a big fan of the new Spurs defence

Mabbutt believes that Tottenham now have a solid base at the back, which allows their attacking players to express themselves better.

The former Spurs centre-back told talkSPORT: “He has come in, brought in a couple of players, van de Ven has been outstanding. Him and Romero now can make a very, very solid partnership like we had with Jan Vertonghen and Toby.

“They could be together for five years. They are working well together. You have got Udogie at left-back. Porro at right-back.

“Those four across the back, with Vicario behind them in goal. You have a very solid back five that allows James Maddison, Bissouma and Sarr, and everybody in front of them to go out and play. That’s what we have now. A solid foundation.”

Spurs Web Opinion

While the personnel changes at the back have certainly helped, the main reason for our defensive improvement is the fact that we now control matches and dominate possession rather than passively defending with men behind the ball.

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The relatively little-known Aussie is drawing plaudits from pundits and fans alike for the way he sets out his teams, his refreshing personality and his clear will to win.

His wider recognition has led to two Premier League Manager of the Month awards for his first two months in the job, the first time a manager in the league has ever achieved this.

The signings Postecoglou has made so far during his tenure in the Tottenham dugout, on paper to the average Spurs fan, looked promising but no one could have predicted the immediate impact that some of them have made.

Part of his philosophy is to develop young players, both signing them himself and from the youth system, and that is evident upon viewing a list of his additions.

Including future acquisitions and players agreeing to join at a later date, a total of ten new signings were brought in during Postecoglou’s first transfer window, and those signings will all be graded out of 10…

Rating Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham signings

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 19: Pedro Porro of Tottenham Hotspur looks on during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on August 19, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images)

Pedro Porro – Loan deal made permanent from Sporting, reported £39m

Having had a shaky start to life in N17, with his full debut coming in that 4-1 defeat to Leicester City in February, Pedro Porro has firmly established himself as one of the league’s best right-backs.

This was evident during his commanding display against Liverpool, where not only did his late driven cross find the back of the net off the foot of the unfortunate Joel Matip, but his defensive awareness and strong tackling ensured a quiet day at the office for Mo Salah, and firmly put to bed any doubts about his defensive abilities.

He looks to have come into his own under Postecoglou, freed from the shackles of Antonio Conte’s back five for his opening two months at Tottenham, and, at 24 years of age, is likely to only improve from here. 7.5/10

Dejan Kulusevski, loan move from Juventus made permanent, reported £25m

It seems that Dejan Kulusevski has been at Tottenham for ages, even though he is technically a new signing, the former Juventus man joining in January 2022 on an initial 18-month loan, with Postecoglou triggering the option to buy the Swedish international over the summer.

Another player who looks to have come under life under a new manager, Kulusevski is quickly putting a disappointing 2022/23 behind him, and our own “ginger from Sweden” is proving undroppable and unstoppable once again on the wing.

The scorer of the winning goal against Sheffield United already this term, completing the latest comeback in Premier League history, ‘Deki’’s work rate and endless determination has won the Spurs fans over again, after a fairly turbulent previous season on a personal level. 7.5/10

Guglielmo Vicario, from Empoli, reported £16m

The first ‘proper’ new signing for the season, it has been a fine start to life in N17 for goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. Despite some quite unstable performances in pre-season, his shot-stopping prowess is already proving a hit with the Spurs faithful and justifying every penny that Spurs paid for him.

It is a testament to the impact of Vicario that his former side, Empoli, comfortably mid-table in the Italian Serie A last season, are struggling in the relegation zone this year without their shot-stopper.

Overall, it’s fair to say that Vicario is becoming more and more comfortable with life in England with every passing week, proving he is not just a ‘cheaper David Raya’. 8/10

James Maddison, from Leicester City, reported £40m

The first true ‘statement’ signing of the Postecoglou era, and James Maddison has exceeded expectations.

A star man of the Leicester team for so long, Spurs beat numerous other clubs, including Newcastle, to his signature when the Foxes were relegated at the end of last season, and his impact on and off the pitch has been sensational, having been appointed vice-captain before a ball was even kicked this season.

Currently, the top provider of assists in the Premier League with five, and with two goals to his name, Maddison’s Spurs career has got off to a flying start, earning him a recall to the England squad, and a well-deserved Premier League Player of the Month award for August.

If he can stay fit all season, who knows how far he can help take this young, hungry Spurs team? 9.5/10

Manor Solomon, free transfer

Eyebrows were raised when Manor Solomon was brought in on a free transfer, upon the expiration of his contract at Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk.

However, the former Fulham man has proven himself to be a capable winger when called upon, as was evident with his two assists on his first start for Spurs in the 5-2 win at Burnley.

Unfortunately out for a few months due to an injury suffered in training, and subsequent operation, Solomon will look to hit the ground running when he returns, and prove himself to be the exciting winger that Ange Postecoglou is looking for. 6/10

Ashley Phillips, from Blackburn Rovers, £2m

It almost seems unfair that a grade has to be given for an 18-year-old centre back, signed from the Championship, with no first-team appearances yet for Spurs.

However, Ashley Phillips has proven a commanding presence at centre-back for the youth team, and has nine caps for England’s Under 19 team.

A composed centre-back, comfortable with the ball at his feet, and with first-team experience having made eight appearances in the Championship for Blackburn Rovers, Phillips is undoubtedly one to watch for the future. 5/10

Micky van de Ven, from Wolfsburg, reported £30m

The transfer saga that seemed to last a lifetime finally ended with Spurs getting their man, and what a signing Dutch centre-back Micky van de Ven has turned out to be.

A string of sensational performances at the back alongside Cristian Romero, culminating in his first goal in Lilywhite away to Luton Town, it is clear that van de Ven is the authoritative centre-back that Tottenham so desperately desired to form a rock-solid partnership with Romero.

Being just 22 years old, van de Ven will surely have a long and successful career in North London and with the Dutch national team, who, amazingly, he is still without a cap for – only a matter of time surely. 9/10

Alejo Veliz, from Rosario Central, reported £13m

Again, it does not seem fair that a grade has to be provided for Alejo Veliz, with the young Argentine striker having played just ten minutes of Premier League football so far this season.

Moreover, he was on the pitch as the winning goal was scored against Liverpool, so it could be said that he already has a winning mentality…

An exciting signing from his native Argentina, the 20-year-old has bags of potential and, as he progresses, will surely be looking to knock on the door of the starting XI before long. 6.5/10

Brennan Johnson, from Nottingham Forest, reported £45m

Another young player with raw potential, Brennan Johnson was signed on Deadline Day from Nottingham Forest to provide competition in forward areas – however picked up a knock during the North London Derby and has not played since.

An unquestionably lively player, epitomised by the fact he scored immediately after coming on as a substitute against Sheffield United, though it was disallowed for offside, Johnson has a hunger and desire when he plays and, in the long run, will be an ideal option for Postecoglou. 7/10

Luka Vuskovic, from Hajduk Split, reported £9.5m

The only player to not pull on the Tottenham shirt for a match yet, unable to join the club until 2025, Luka Vuskovic is a highly-rated Croatian central defender, and Spurs, who are no strangers to welcoming Croatian talent, beat competition from other elite European clubs to sign him.

Provided that Ange Postecoglou stays to welcome him to the club, and therefore aids his development so that he becomes a starting centre-back, we look to have a real player on our hands. One to watch for sure. 6/10

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Tottenham completed a £17.2million deal to take Vicario from Serie A side Empoli on a five-year deal back in June with the Italian brought in as the replacement for the long-serving Hugo Lloris.

Lloris signalled his intent to move on for a new challenge earlier this summer following eleven years at Tottenham, but despite being linked with a host of clubs including his former club Nice, however, a move failed to materialise before the window closed and he remains on the club payroll (Nice-Matin).

(Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Darren Bent praises Guglielmo Vicario

Vicario has shown that he is comfortable with the ball at his feet in Ange Postecoglou‘s new tactical system which puts plenty of onus on a high-risk strategy of playing out from the back, while he has also shown glimpses of his shot-stopping ability with smart saves against the likes of Manchester United and more recently, Luton Town.

Bent told talkSPORT, when asked about Ange Postecoglou’s impact at Spurs, along with some of the summer signings: “He’s gone in there and he’s completely changed it around.

“I think Madison looks great. Van de Ven, we spoke about him yesterday, he looks good. Vicario, the goalkeeper, plays really well.”

SpursWeb Opinion

While many of us who are focused on Premier League matters may not have know a great deal about Vicario before his arrival, he has already proven himself to be a more suitable player for Postecoglou’s set-up than Lloris would have been, given the Frenchman’s limited ability when in possession of the ball.

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Tottenham go into the international break at the top of the Premier League table after an incredible start to the season under Ange Postecoglou.

The Spurs boss has bid farewell to a large portion of his squad for the next couple of weeks, as various players head out to join up with their national squads.

There are Euro 2024 qualifiers, friendly matches, youth squad action, and even some World Cup 2026 qualifiers on the way in the coming days.

On Wednesday, Ben Davies captained Wales to a 4-0 win over Gibraltar at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground. The Spurs defender even opened the scoring on the night, nodding home from three yards out.

Meanwhile, Tottenham youngsters Luca Gunter and Ashley Phillips played the full 90 minutes as England U19s drew 0-0 with Montenegro. Alfie Dorrington was an unused substitute for the game, while Jamie Donley didn’t make the matchday squad.

Fellow youngster, Will Andiyapan, was in action for Wales U19s, playing the full 90 minutes in another 0-0 draw, against Austria.

SOLNA, SWEDEN – MARCH 24: Dejan Kulusevski of Sweden during the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying round group A match between Sweden and Belgium at Friends Arena on March 24, 2023 in Solna, Sweden. (Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images)

When do Spurs players have international games?

Here are the upcoming international games for the Tottenham Hotspur players.

Heung-min Son: South Korea vs Tunisia (friendly) October 13 at 12pm, South Korea vs Vietnam (friendly) October 17 at 12pm

James Maddison: England vs Australia (friendly) October 13 at 7:45pm, England vs Italy (Euro 2024 qualifier) October 17 at 7:45pm

Dejan Kulusevski: Sweden vs Moldova (friendly) October 12 at 6pm, Belgium vs Sweden (Euro 2024 qualifier) October 16 at 7:45pm

Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romero: Argentina vs Paraguay (World Cup 2026 qualifier) October 13 at 12am, Peru vs Argentina (World Cup 2026 qualifier) October 18 at 3am

Micky van de Ven: Netherlands vs France (Euro 2024 qualifier) October 13 at 7:45pm, Greece vs Netherlands (Euro 2024 qualifier) October 16 at 7:45pm

Destiny Udogie and Guglielmo Vicario: Italy vs Malta (Euro 2024 qualifier) October 14 at 7:45pm, England vs Italy (Euro 2024 qualifier) October 17 at 7:45pm

Yves Bissouma: Mali vs Saudi Arabia (friendly) October 17 at 4pm

Pape Matar Sarr: Senegal vs Cameroon (friendly) October 16 at 7:30pm

Richarlison: Brazil vs Venezuela (World Cup 2026 qualifier) October 13 at 1:30am, Uruguay vs Brazil (World Cup 2026 qualifier) October 18 at 1am

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg: Denmark vs Kazakhstan (Euro 2024 qualifier) October 14 at 7:45pm, San Marino vs Denmark (Euro 2024 qualifier) October 17 at 7:45pm

Ben Davies and Joe Rodon: Wales vs Croatia (Euro 2024 qualifier) October 15 at 7:45pm

Dane Scarlett: England U21s vs Serbia U21s (Euro qualifier) October 12 at 7:45pm, Slovakia U21s vs England U21s (Euro qualifier) October 16 at 5:30pm

Alfie Devine: Romania U20s vs England U20s (Euro Lite) October 12 at 5pm, England U20s vs Portugal U20s (Euro Lite) October 17 at 7pm

Alfie Dorrington, Ashley Phillips, Jamie Donley, and Luca Gunter: England U19s vs Wales U19s (Euro qualifier) October 14 at 2pm, England U19s vs Austria U19s (Euro qualifier) October 17 at 5pm

Will Andiyapan: Wales U19s vs England U19s (Euro qualifier) October 14 at 2pm, Montenegro U19s vs Wales U19s (Euro qualifier) October 17 at 5pm

Josh Keeley: Latvia U21s vs Republic of Ireland U21s (Euro qualifier) October 13 at 1pm

Mikey Moore and Callum Olusesi: England U17s vs Norway U17s (friendly) October 13 at 12pm

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So far this season we have been wowed by the attacking talent and expansive football of Ange Postecoglou‘s squad.

While forward players such as Heung-min Son and James Maddison have largely claimed the plaudits, it was a more solid defensive performance from the Lilywhites that won the day on Saturday.

Yves Bissouma’s red card on the stroke of half time made things rather more difficult for Spurs at Kenilworth Road, meaning the team had to pull together and show how resilient they can be.

Far from being on the front foot, in the second half at least, it was the sturdy backline of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, in front of the reliable Guglielmo Vicario, which prevailed for Spurs.

LUTON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 07: Micky van de Ven of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring the team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Luton Town and Tottenham Hotspur at Kenilworth Road on October 07, 2023 in Luton, England. (Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images)

Three Spurs players in Crooks’ team of the week

In his Premier League team of the week for the BBC, Garth Crooks chose those three Tottenham players for their efforts against Luton Town.

On Vicario, Crooks said: “I have selected Guglielmo Vicario for the very first time, after he took over from Hugo Lloris… since the arrival of Vicario the Italian has looked much more competent between the sticks.”

“With only 10 men it was imperative that Vicario kept a clean sheet. However, it was the one-handed save from Carlton Morris in the final throes of the match that was outstanding.”

Crooks noted how Spurs made “hard work” of their win, but credited the victory to “Luton’s inability to take their chances even against ten men, and thanks to defending from the likes of Romero.”

And on van de Ven, the match winner on the day, Crooks added: “The newly appointed Tottenham manager has certainly put a lot of faith in Micky van de Ven. The 22-year-old Dutch defender certainly looks very impressive at this level and took his goal brilliantly.”

Postecoglou also received a share of the praise, with Crooks saying: “Ange Postecoglou seems to trust his players to get the job done and it’s worked so far. The Australian seemed to be the coolest man in the ground. His calm demeanour is clearly having a positive effect on his players.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Three very worthy inclusions in the team of the week for players who don’t normally get the chance to shine in this attacking team. Cuti and Micky are proving to be a formidable pairing and with Vicario behind them, we will be very hard to beat this year.

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Vicario has transitioned smoothly to the Premier League since his move for Empoli this summer and he looks like a massive bargain, particularly when one considers the fee that Man Utd paid for Andre Onana.

The 26-year-old has hardly put a foot wrong since his move to N17 and there are already some calls in Italy for him to be handed a chance to start for the Azzurri ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma (Corriere dello Sport via Sport Witness).

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: Guglielmo Vicario of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 16, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Paratici wanted Vicario at Tottenham for a while

Football.London’s Alasdair Gold has been reporting over the past few months that Paratici has continued working in a consultancy role for Spurs since vacating his position back in April.

If The Athletic’s latest update is to be believed, the 50-year-old might have played a key role in the club’s decision to sign Vicario.

The report claims that Paratici had ‘admired’ the goalkeeper for a while and had enquired about his availability when he was at Spurs.

Spurs Web Opinion

There is no doubt that Paratici and Leonardo Gabbanini would have driven the club’s interest in Vicario, given that they keep a close on the progression of various stars across Italian football.

Credit also has to go to Postecoglou for green-lighting the move for the 26-year-old over safer options such as David Raya.

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While Vicario and Udogie had both caught the eye over the last two years with their displays in the Serie A for Empoli and Udinese respectively, both players were relative unknowns to Premier League fans, and have surprised people with the impact they have made at Tottenham.

Gazzetta label the new Spurs number one as ‘immovable’ and praise Udogie’s ‘boldness’, adding that the 20-year-old is on his way to becoming ‘one of the young revelations’ of the Premier League season.

The outlet remarks that the pair have become ‘untouchable’ for Ange Postecoglou and have been the protagonists of Tottenham’s ‘rebirth’ under the Australian.

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 19: Destiny Udogie of Tottenham Hotspur is substituted off during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on August 19, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Udogie and Vicario are impressing with mentality

It is explained that is not just Vicario’s shot-stopping ability that has impressed the Spurs head coach but also his desire to learn and improve on a regular basis.

Meanwhile, it is asserted that Udogie caught Postecoglou’s eye in pre-season and has shown ‘personality and confidence’ on the pitch that goes far beyond his relative inexperience.

Gazzetta add that the goalkeeper and the left-back have been ‘cornerstones’ of the revolution that is happening in N17.

Spurs Web Opinion

The most exciting thing about this current Spurs team is that it is an extremely young side. The likes of Udogie, Sarr, Van de Ven, Porro, Sarr, Johnson and others are nowhere near their ceilings as of yet, which means that we could potentially be in for something special over the next few years.

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One of the top priorities for Ange Postecoglou this summer was finding a replacement for Hugo Lloris. The former club captain and number one keeper had a fairly disastrous campaign last year, and was all but ready to leave the club this summer.

Ultimately, Lloris stayed put, despite the signing of Guglielmo Vicario from Empoli. The Italian stopper has slotted into the new-look Spurs team with ease, making a fantastic impression in the early days of his Tottenham career.

With the Lilywhites unbeaten in the Premier League so far, many eyes are on the likes of Heung-min Son and James Maddison in attack. However, Vicario has received plenty of praise for his performances in the Spurs goal.

BURNLEY, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 02: Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario reacts during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Turf Moor on September 02, 2023 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Journalist has enjoyed Vicario’s journey to the top

In an appearance on Canale 21’s Campania Sport (via Tutto Napoli), journalist Umberto Chiarello was discussing Serie A goalkeepers and used Vicario as an example of how far one can go with a little patience and ‘personality.’

He said: “I’m interested in the goalkeeper’s attitude. I’ll give you the example of Vicario. He was Cragno’s backup at Cagliari, had a month and a half of visibility due to the latter’s injury and he proved to be good.

“Cragno returned and he returned to the bench, he [Vicario] went to Empoli and had an amazing year, confirming himself even in his second year.

“Now Tottenham have signed him and he’s doing extraordinary things, there is a growth in this boy who from a reserve has become an important goalkeeper. You can see the personality in his case.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Guglielmo Vicario has been outstanding so far and hopefully he will keep improving. I’ve seen very little to complain about, but given his commitment to being the best he can be, he will want to develop his game even more.

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The outlet states that Vicario, who has been one of the best goalkeepers on show in the Serie A over the last couple of years, has hit the ground running since his move to Tottenham, showing great ‘technical and mental skills’ so far.

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: Guglielmo Vicario of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 16, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

The report states that he has immediately won over Spurs fans, having made some ‘extraordinary’ saves this season. They label the 26-year-old as a ‘perfectionist’ and claim that he did his homework before giving the green light to join Tottenham.

Does Vicario deserve a chance to start for Italy?

Corriere also say that Vicario has developed a ‘special’ relationship with Ange Postecoglou, with the pair having a ‘sincere’ trust since they have both forged career paths that have involved ‘great sacrifices’.

The publication suggests that it is perhaps time for Luciano Spalletti to try out the Tottenham man between the sticks for the Azzurri.

Spurs Web Opinion

Unfortunately for Vicario, he is not likely to win many caps for Italy over the course of his career, being in a similar age bracket to Gianluigi Donnarumma.

However, should the PSG star go through a bad run of form, the Spurs star is certainly well-positioned to grab the number one shirt.

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