There is a breeze of change rustling through the corridors of the Stadio Maradona and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and it smells distinctly of a swa...
There is a breeze of change rustling through the corridors of the Stadio Maradona and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and it smells distinctly of a swap. GoalZaza has learned of an intriguing exchange idea that has emerged from the shadows of the transfer market: Napoli could send Vanja Milinkovic. Savic to north London in exchange for Guglielmo Vicario. Now, that is a conversation starter, is it notLet us be honest for a moment. Vicario has been a revelation for Spurs since his arrival. His shot stopping has been sharp, his distribution crisp, and he has shown a commendable ability to organise a back line that can, at times, resemble a fire drill. But Napoli They have their own man between the sticks in Alex Meret, but the whispers suggest Antonio Conte is looking for a specific kind of goalkeeper. Someone who can sweep, who can start attacks with a clipped pass to the full back, and who commands his area with the authority of a sergeant major. Vicario fits that mould perfectly. He is a modern goalkeeper, a sweeper keeper who thrives on high lines and transitional play.Then there is Milinkovic. Savic. A different beast entirely. He is a giant of a man, a traditional shot stopper who relies on physical presence and raw athleticism. He is not the type to play tiki taka with his feet, but give him a cross to claim or a one on one to smother, and he is your man. Tottenham, under Ange Postecoglou, need a goalkeeper who is comfortable with the ball at his feet. Milinkovic Savic is not that. He is a penalty box guardian, not a playmaker. And that, right there, is the crux of the problem. Why would Spurs swap a keeper who fits the system for one who does notBut maybe, just maybe, this is about more than just the eleven on the pitch. Maybe it is about squad depth. If Spurs can get a premium price for Vicario and land a cheaper, more traditional alternative in Milinkovic Savic, they could free up funds for a centre half or a box to box midfielder. For Napoli, it is a chance to add a top class shot stopper without spending a dime, while offloading a player who might not be in Conte's long term plans. It is a tangled web, this transfer business, and the threads are just beginning to show. One thing is certain: if this deal goes through, it will shake up the goalkeeping hierarchy in both Serie A and the Premier League. Squeaky bum time for the agents, I reckon.
