Juventus have reached an agreement with Tottenham to take goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario on a season-long loan, with an £8.5m option to sign him permanently at the end of the deal.

The Italian giants had initially set their sights on Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez, but their pursuit cooled after Villa rejected a £8.5m (€10m) bid. Martinez's finger injury and the club's determination to hold on to him ultimately pushed Juventus toward an alternative.

From Empoli to Spurs — now back to Italy?

Vicario joined Tottenham from Empoli in 2023, but Sky Sports News reported as far back as June that he was expected to depart with Antonin Kinsky established as Spurs' first-choice goalkeeper. A move back to Serie A now looks set to materialise.

Villa's pursuit of Suzuki casts doubt on Martinez's future

In a parallel development, Aston Villa have agreed a £29.9m (€35m) deal with Parma to sign Japan international goalkeeper Zion Suzuki — the same player Juventus had targeted on loan, contingent on Suzuki completing a move to Paris Saint-Germain first.

When that proposed transfer to Paris Saint-Germain stalled, Villa moved swiftly, securing Suzuki themselves. The arrival of a new goalkeeper raises questions over Martinez's long-term role at Villa Park, despite the Argentina World Cup winner holding a contract through 2029.

On August 5, a representative of Martinez told Sky Sports News that the goalkeeper was content at Villa and looking ahead to the new campaign. According to Gustavo Goñi of agency Universal TwentyTwo, Martinez has never requested a transfer — not during Manchester United's interest last summer, nor amid approaches from Juventus and Inter Milan this summer.

Goñi made clear that Martinez will only depart if Aston Villa sanction the move and all parties reach an agreement that works for everyone involved.