Tottenham's Goalkeeper Focus: Emiliano Martinez Incoming?

Tottenham are moving fast in the market again – and this time the focus is on the man between the posts.

With Guglielmo Vicario heading for Juventus, Spurs have turned their attention to Aston Villa’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, with reports claiming the north London club have already made their move.

Vicario out, Martinez in?

The dominoes started with Fabrizio Romano’s familiar signal. On Monday, he confirmed Juventus had struck a deal with Tottenham for Vicario, a loan with an option to buy rather than an obligation. The Italian wanted the switch, and Spurs signed off on it.

Romano wrote on X that Vicario “leaves #THFC today” as he becomes the new goalkeeper for Juventus. David Ornstein backed that up, reporting that Tottenham had accepted Juve’s proposal and that all parties expected the signing to go through.

Crucially, Ornstein added that Juventus pushed ahead for Vicario after calling off their pursuit of Martinez. That decision has opened a clear lane for Spurs.

According to Football Insider, Tottenham have now “made a move” for the Aston Villa No.1, exploring a deal for the 33-year-old Argentina international as they prepare for life after Vicario. Spurs do have Antonin Kinsky on the books, but the club want an established first-choice to anchor Roberto De Zerbi’s high-risk, high-possession style.

Villa open the door

The timing is no coincidence. Aston Villa are understood to be open to letting Martinez leave this summer, particularly after tying up a deal for Zion Suzuki from Parma.

The same report claims Suzuki is expected to walk straight into the starting XI for the 2026-27 campaign, a clear indication of Villa’s long-term planning. If that projection holds, Martinez’s future lies elsewhere – and a move across the Premier League is firmly on the cards.

For Tottenham, who only escaped relegation on the final day last season, this is part of a wider, aggressive rebuild designed to drag the club away from the trapdoor and back towards the top half.

De Zerbi’s rebuild gathers pace

The goalkeeper situation is just one strand of a frantic summer at Spurs.

The club have already been busy: Andy Robertson has arrived on a free from Liverpool, Marcos Senesi on a free from Bournemouth, Jan Paul van Hecke for £52m from Brighton, Martin Dubravka on a free from Burnley, Mateus Fernandes for £85m from West Ham and Sandro Tonali for £92.5m from Newcastle United.

It’s a bold, expensive attempt to arm De Zerbi with the players he needs to impose his demanding, possession-heavy blueprint. The message from the board is clear: last season’s brush with relegation cannot be repeated.

If they can now land Martinez – a proven leader, a penalty specialist and a big-game goalkeeper – it would add experience and edge to a dressing room that collapsed under pressure too often last term.

Moore’s move on hold

At the other end of the pitch, another decision underlines De Zerbi’s influence.

Young winger Mikey Moore, who spent last season on loan at Rangers, is close to another temporary switch, this time to Cologne. BILD Rhineland, via Sport Witness, report that the Bundesliga side are poised to take him on a season-long loan.

But De Zerbi is not ready to sign off just yet. The Italian coach is said to be blocking the move until Spurs secure their own attacking reinforcements. He wants depth and options before he lets one of the club’s brightest prospects head out again.

Cologne are relaxed and still expect the deal to happen later in the window. For now, Moore waits, Tottenham shop, and the squad remains in flux.

The question is simple: if Spurs can pair De Zerbi’s daring football with the steel of a goalkeeper like Emiliano Martinez, how quickly can this team turn survival anxiety into genuine ambition?