Tottenham Hotspur reportedly stands on the brink of finalizing their first signing of the January transfer window, as they make strides toward securing young goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky from Slavia Prague.
After a roughly inconsistent beginning to the 2024/25 Premier League season, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou finds himself under mounting pressure, with speculation swirling that he could be one of the next managers shown the door. Currently positioned at 11th in the table, Tottenham trails fifth-placed Newcastle United by seven points after 19 games.
This season has been particularly tough for Tottenham, plagued by injuries, notably to their first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. The Italian shot-stopper has undergone surgery for an ankle issue and is expected to be sidelined for several months.
Despite earlier assurances from Postecoglou that the club would not be pursuing a replacement keeper in January—arguing that bringing in a 'free agent' would not benefit the team—the performance of veteran Fraser Forster has forced a rethink regarding their transfer strategy. "That's not going to happen. I don't think signing a free agent now is going to help us," Postecoglou had commented when questioned about the goalkeeper situation.
Forster has stepped into the breach but has struggled for form, which has led Spurs to reconsider their plans. Just days after initial reports suggested Tottenham were targeting a keeper from a Premier League rival, news has surfaced that they are set to acquire Kinsky, who is deemed a player 'no one expected' to join at this stage.
Having joined Slavia Prague in 2021, the 21-year-old has already made 29 appearances across all competitions this season. Moreover, renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has corroborated claims from the Czech outlet Infotbal, announcing that all parties have reached a 'verbal agreement'.
Romano stated: "Tottenham are on the verge of signing Slavia Prague GK Antonín Kinsky. He's in London today for a medical examination. A verbal agreement has been established among all parties, and Kinsky should be undergoing a medical after today's match." He further confirmed that Spurs are prepared to invest over £10 million for Kinsky, with a long-term deal also ratified.
In what is shaping up to be a significant move, formal documentation between Slavia Prague and Tottenham is anticipated to be completed later today following the conclusion of the match.