TOTTENHAM are monitoring James Trafford’s situation at Manchester City as they explore replacements for Guglielmo Vicario.
Regular No1 Vicario is expected to leave this summer and has been the subject of strong interest from Serie A giants .
James Trafford was sidelined after the signing of Gianluigi DonnarummaCredit: PA
Guglielmo Vicario has received strong interest from ItalyCredit: Getty
Should the 29-year-old depart, it will prompt the relegation-threatened North Londoners to sign a new stopper regardless of whether they have beaten the drop or not.
Trafford, 23, has emerged as a possible target between the sticks in N17 if he is allowed to exit .
Though sources suggest are in the driving seat for the England stopper should he become available.
Toon came extremely close to landing Trafford last summer from but were beaten to the punch by City, who splashed £27million to re-sign their academy graduate.
Yet he quickly fell down the pecking order when City then bought Italy superstar Gianluigi Donnarumma from .
Trafford started City’s over in the FA Cup quarter-final at the weekend but has not made a league appearance since Donnarumma’s arrival.
are also believed to be eyeing up Trafford should Emi Martinez leave.
Bart Verbruggen, whom new boss Roberto De Zerbi managed at , is another name believed to be on Spurs’ list of stopper targets.
Vicario is currently recovering from the hernia surgery he underwent last month and is a doubt for De Zerbi’s debut at on Sunday.
Should the Italian not return in time, De Zerbi will weigh up whether to hand a first appearance to Antonin Kinsky since the Czech was against last month, following two howlers.
Spurs legend Teddy Sheringham is excited by De Zerbi’s appointment – even if he is uncertain whether the Italian firebrand and Spurs are a good combination.
“I don’t know whether he’s the right fit for Tottenham. He’s very outspoken, very Latin temperament, quite narky at times. Says how he feels, says what he demands from people.
“I don’t know whether that’s the right sort of person in charge in the long run, but I’m excited by what he gives you.
“I quite like that he’s a bit fiery, a bit lively — wants to test people and question people above him, to say, ‘this is how you play football, are you coming along for the ride?’
“Rather than asking, ‘is everything okay, am I doing it right?’ He won’t care. I like that.”
Meanwhile, Sean Dyche has revealed he would not have been enticed by Spurs had they moved for him, despite the possible lucrative salary on offer.
Roberto De Zerbi is tasked with saving Spurs from relegationCredit: Getty
Sean Dyche says he would not have been keen to take the Tottenham jobCredit: PA
Tottenham considered Dyche as a short-term solution after Igor Tudor but eventually hired De Zerbi permanently on a money-spinning, five-year deal.
Dyche told talkSPORT there were no talks between himself and Spurs, before adding: “Obviously in the career I have, it does pay well but I wouldn’t go in there looking for money.
“They could offer me a massive amount of money, I’m sure they’re capable of it and allegedly they’ve offered De Zerbi a massive amount of money.
“It would have been about what are you [Spurs] going to help me gain as a human being. What would I gain?
“Let’s say you go in there and get the job done [not get relegated], then next season if you’re not in the top four and the football’s not what they want, then you’re rubbish and they want you out.
“So you’re not going to gain a lot there, are you? And that’s if you get the job done, because it’s not easy.
“If you don’t get the job done, then somehow it’s on my neck that I took Tottenham down.
“That ain’t good for me as a human, this is not even about football at this point.
“Then you get some money and I go, I’m not thirsty for that. I’ve got some money.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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