Tottenham Hotspur could be set for their first major player exit of the Roberto De Zerbi era as goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario moves another step closer to the exit door.
Tottenham announced on Tuesday afternoon that they had got their top manager target, with De Zerbi joining on a five-year contract, which includes no relegation release clause, according to GIVEMESPORT sources.
Spurs' offer of giving the Italian a long-term contract combined with making him the third best-paid Premier League manager, GMS understands, has seen him perform U-turns on not wanting to take the job until the summer or managing the club in the Championship.
The 46-year-old's full focus will now be on ensuring the latter point isn't an issue, as he looks to lead the north Londoners to safety in the remaining seven top flight matches of the campaign.
Tottenham could be in the drop zone by the time they next kick off against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on April 12, with the team directly below them, West Ham United, playing two days earlier against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the London Stadium.
Vicario 'Will Sign Inter Milan Contract'
According to L'Interista, Vicario has agreed personal terms on a €3.5m-per-season contract to move to the San Siro with Inter Milan.
With the Italy international already saying yes to a return to his homeland following a previous spell in Serie A with Empoli, Inter must now agree a fee with Tottenham for the 29-year-old's services.
The fee is expected to be around €20m (£17.5m), although the report adds that it could drop should Spurs find themselves in the Championship at the end of the season.
Vicario is said to be honoured by Inter's interest, as he looks to go home after three years in English football.
Writing on the Wall for Vicario
The performances of Vicario have declined in recent months, and it was no surprise that he was dropped by Igor Tudor for the trip to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, albeit it was the wrong time to make the change and put in the inexperienced Antonin Kinsky, as the Croat quickly found out in the Spanish capital.
Spurs fans seem to be less and less convinced that he should be their number one on a long-term basis, with the free-kick he knocked straight out of play in the defeat to Fulham a sign of how he has been struggling.
It was reported in February that Tottenham had already decided to sell Vicario regardless of who their next permanent manager would be.
Reports in recent weeks also suggested that Vicario himself is 'determined' to leave Tottenham at the end of the season, but first he will be keen to help them stay in the Premier League having undergone recent surgery on a hernia issue.
Who Could Tottenham Target to Replace Vicario?
Tottenham have already been linked with a couple of Premier League goalkeepers in Brighton and Hove Albion's Bert Verbruggen and Manchester City's James Trafford.
Meanwhile, they are reported to be looking at Galatasaray stopper Ugurcan Cakir as part of a stunning triple summer transfer raid on the Turkish giants.
With Vicario seemingly destined for an exit, Spurs need to find a long-term number one who will suit De Zerbi's style of play as a priority.