Tottenham Hotspur ‘close in’ on Guilermo Vicario replacement

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly close to signing Slavia Prague goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, Soccernet.football understands.

Kinsky began his career at Dukla Prague before joining Slavia as a teenager in 2021. After gaining experience through multiple loan spells in the Czech football pyramid, he became Slavia’s first-choice goalkeeper this season.

The Czech Republic international has Europa League experience and received his first senior national team call-up in October, though he has yet to make his debut.

Spurs and Slavia have conducted negotiations for the 21-year-old discreetly. The move came to light on Saturday when Czech outlet inFotbal reported that Kinsky had traveled to London and was set to undergo a medical following Spurs’ lunchtime clash with Newcastle United.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou fielded third-choice goalkeeper Brandon Austin in the match against Newcastle. The 25-year-old is making his Spurs debut, nine years after joining the club, due to injuries to the team’s first and second-choice goalkeepers.

First-choice shot-stopper Guglielmo Vicario fractured his ankle during a 4-0 defeat to Manchester City in November. He remarkably played through most of the match despite the injury but now faces a spell on the sidelines until at least April. Veteran goalkeeper Fraser Forster stepped in during Vicario’s absence but an illness has ruled him out.

Even if Forster recovers, Kinsky could see action shortly after his anticipated arrival. According to Fabrizio Romano, all parties have reached a verbal agreement, with the deal described as “on the verge” of completion.

Tottenham’s next run of games for the month include one at home against Liverpool in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday before traveling to face fifth-tier Tamworth in the FA Cup third round next weekend. They will also face the likes Arsenal, Everton, Hoffenheim, Leicester City and Elfsborg in a hugely congested second half of January.