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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Fabrizio Romano

Tottenham seal £16.4m deal for Empoli goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario

Guglielmo Vicario celebrates Empoli’s win over Salernitana last month.
Guglielmo Vicario celebrates Empoli’s win over Salernitana last month. Photograph: Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Tottenham have agreed a €19m (£16.4m) deal to buy the Empoli goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. The 26-year-old is due in London to sign a contract to 2028.

Spurs have been searching for a goalkeeper after Hugo Lloris declared his intention to leave. They also agreed terms with David Raya but are not willing to meet Brentford’s £40m asking price.

Vicario has just finished his second season as the first choice with Empoli in Serie A, having played in Italy’s lower divisions and been the second choice at top-flight Cagliari in 2020-21. He has been a regular in the Italy squad since his first call-up last September but has not played for the national team.

Tottenham have made the Bayer Leverkusen and Burkina Faso centre-back Edmond Tapsoba their top target in that position. The 24-year-old has been with Leverkusen since 2020 after joining from the Portuguese club Vitória Guimarães.

Fulham are serious contenders in the race for the Southampton captain, James Ward-Prowse. The relegated Saints are likely to demand close to £30m for Ward-Prowse, who is thought to favour a move to Marco Silva's side over West Ham or Brentford.

West Ham are targeting Fulham's João Palhinha to replace Declan Rice, who is the subject of interest from Arsenal and Manchester City. That could create a space in the Fulham midfield for Ward-Prowse to link up with his former Saints teammate Harrison Reed.

Elsewhere, Celtic have made their first signing of the second Brendan Rodgers era, bringing in Norwegian midfielder Odin Thiago Holm on a five-year contract for £2.5m from Vålerenga.

"I have spent time already with Odin, he is an ambitious, exciting young player and I know he is delighted to be joining us," Rodgers said of the 20-year-old. "I have looked at him closely and believe he is someone who can make a big impact here." PA Media

Fulham’s Tosin Adarabioyo is among other options being considered by Spurs, who are have given Davinson Sánchez the go-ahead to look for a new club. Bournemouth are close to signing Justin Kluivert from Roma for £9.5m plus £850,000 in add-ons. The forward has agree a contract to 2028.

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