Tottenham’s summer rebuild has hit a snag, with plans to sell one of their senior players growing more complicated by the day.
Spurs have been hunting a new number one after a shift in the pecking order last season left the player no longer guaranteed a starting spot, fueling exit speculation. But finding a buyer is proving harder than hoped.
One route closed when Inter Milan, initially strong admirers, cooled their interest in the Italian international and looked elsewhere. Hopes then turned to Juventus, with Italian reports suggesting the Spurs man was high on their list as they sought a new long-term keeper — for a while it looked like a realistic match for both sides.
That’s now changed. According to journalist Matteo Moretto, Juventus are closing in on a deal for Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez, with talks moving quickly and the World Cup winner now the clear front-runner. Personal terms are reportedly close, with the move expected to progress soon.
If that goes through, Tottenham lose arguably their most likely buyer, shrinking the pool of clubs in the market for an experienced goalkeeper. With little other concrete interest, there’s a real chance the player stays in North London past the window — setting up an intriguing fight for the starting jersey, given he remains well regarded despite losing his place late last season.
Adding to the complexity is his relationship with De Zerbi — the two are said to get on well, and the manager may be happy to keep his compatriot around if no transfer materializes. For now, Spurs’ hopes of a big-money sale have taken a hit, and without fresh interest soon, they could end up keeping a player they’d planned to move on.
