Football Italia

When Yann Sommer departs Inter this summer, as expected, with the veteran Swiss goalkeeper’s contract expiring in June, the question of who fills his boots will be one of the most consequential decisions Cristian Chivu and sporting director Piero Ausilio make this summer.

For much of the season, the answer appeared straightforward: Guglielmo Vicario, Inter’s long-standing target at Tottenham Hotspur. Increasingly, however, the evidence points in a different direction.

Inter have been linked with a potential move for Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario for much of the 2025-26 season, but recent updates indicate that the Nerazzurri have cooled off in their pursuit of the former Empoli stopper. Here’s why.

Vicario has spent the last three seasons in North London, having joined in a €19m deal from Empoli in the summer of 2023, becoming the most expensive departure in the history of the Italian club in the process.

The last two seasons, particularly in the Premier League, have been massively disappointing for Tottenham on a collective level. They are still mathematically at risk of relegation to the Championship in the final stage of the 2025-26 Premier League season, and for the second season in a row, will not finish any higher than 17th place in the English top flight.

Why are Inter leaning away from Vicario transfer?

There has been an upturn in Tottenham’s form following the appointment of Italian head coach Roberto De Zerbi at the end of March. They have won two and drawn two of their last four matches, and could secure Premier League safety when they take on Chelsea on Tuesday night.

As per La Gazzetta dello Sport, Tottenham surviving in the Premier League would make life more complicated for Inter if they were to continue with their hopes of signing Vicario this summer.

The Pink Paper claims that the goalkeeper is valued in the region of €20m, which would be lowered in the event of relegation, but this is now looking increasingly unlikely and negotiations could start to become more complicated again.

Secondly, Inter already have an heir to Yann Sommer ready and waiting in-house. The club brought in Josep Martinez for a €15.5m fee from Genoa in the summer of 2024, and the Spaniard has recently admitted that he is hoping to be confirmed as Inter’s no.1 for 2026-27.

The benefit with Martinez is that he already knows the club and players well and understands what Cristian Chivu wants from his goalkeepers. He put in a solid campaign in cup competitions this season and already has a full season of Serie A football under his belt from his time with Genoa.

Sommer will be leaving Inter at the end of the season, so there is still a need for Inter to bring in a new goalkeeper either way this summer, but promoting Martinez to no.1 would mean they are in the market for a cheaper understudy, rather than a comparatively expensive first choice.

Moise Kean’s future at Fiorentina is under serious scrutiny after a disappointing season in which the Italy international managed just eight Serie A goals, a dramatic drop from the 25 he contributed across all competitions last year that earned him a contract extension and a doubled salary.

According to Corriere dello Sport, Fiorentina’s entire attacking line has severely underperformed this season, with Kean, Albert Gudmundsson and Roberto Piccoli combining for just 18 Serie A goals between them. Incoming sporting director Fabio Paratici faces difficult decisions across the board, but Kean’s situation is the most complex given the figures involved.

Kean release clause and tibia problem complicate Fiorentina’s summer planning

Kean holds a release clause of €62 million, a 20% increase triggered by last season’s performances, valid until July 15.

No club activated it in the summer of 2025, with only a couple of Saudi sides making enquiries that Kean himself declined. The chances of anyone matching that figure this summer are considered slim, but Tottenham Hotspur and Milan have both been credited with interest in the Italian, and their approach could influence Fiorentina’s decision.

The club must weigh a persistent tibia problem that has hampered Kean throughout the campaign, an increasingly difficult working relationship, and the simple reality that a striker of his profile, contracted until 2029 on significant wages, cannot be retained purely on the basis of past promise.

The right offer, and the player’s own wishes, will ultimately determine the outcome.

Piccoli, meanwhile, is expected to stay and be given another chance, while Gudmundsson’s future hinges on whether any club can meet Fiorentina’s valuation for the Icelandic forward.

MILAN, ITALY - MAY 10: Fans of AC Milan spell out "G.F OUT", as they protest against Giorgio Furlani, Chief Executive Officer of AC Milan, prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and Atalanta BC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 10, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Some Milan supporters witnessing the third consecutive year of angry protests have come to a worrying conclusion: ‘Are we the Tottenham Hotspur of Italy?’

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Reports in Italy indicate that Inter might decide against signing Guglielmo Vicario despite reaching an agreement with the Tottenham goalkeeper: Lorenzo Bettoni explains why the Nerazzurri’s decision would make sense.

Tottenham and Italy goalkeeper Vicario has long been Inter’s primary target to replace Yann Sommer in 2026-27, as the Swiss international is expected to leave San Siro at the end of his contract in June.

Multiple sources in Italy claim that Inter might decide against signing Guglielmo Vicario from Tottenham this summer and instead rely on their current second-choice goalkeeper, Josep Martinez, in 2026-27.

Vicario might not be joining Inter over the summer despite having already reached an agreement with the fresh Serie A winners.

Inter might drop Vicario despite agreement with Tottenham goalkeeper

Multiple sources over the last few weeks reported that the Nerazzurri had reached a principle of agreement with the Italy international, although they still had to receive the green light from Tottenham, who value Vicario at €20m.

According to Corriere dello Sport, the Nerazzurri might ultimately decide against signing Vicario and instead use their transfer budget to strengthen other areas.

Gazzetta dello Sport reported earlier this week that the Nerazzurri will have a budget of €40-50m for new signings in the summer, which could be boosted with some sales.

Yann Sommer is expected to leave at the end of his contract in June, so the second-choice keeper Martinez would be deployed as a regular starter in goal next season if Inter decide against welcoming Vicario.

The Italian goalkeeper remains on Inter’s radar, but transfer expert Matteo Moretto has also reported that the Nerazzurri are now unsure about whether to continue talks with Tottenham, given that Martinez could become their first option for the new campaign.

If Inter don’t sign Vicario, they’d still have to get a high-level second-choice keeper who would potentially compete with Martinez for a starting spot in goal next season, Moretto said.

Martinez, 27, will start the next two matches against Lazio, first in Serie A and then in the Coppa Italia Final.

He has only made eight appearances across all competitions this season, going through a tough time off the pitch after being involved in a car accident that killed an 81-year-old man in an electric wheelchair in October 2025.

Martinez is in his second season at the Stadio Meazza, having joined Inter from Genoa for €14m in the 2024 summer transfer window.

Mandela Keita has emerged as one of the most sought-after midfielders in Europe after an impressive debut Serie A season with Parma, with Atalanta joining Premier League sides Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur in monitoring the Belgian.

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According to ParmaToday, via TuttoMercatoWeb, Atalanta’s interest is directly linked to the expected departure of Ederson, who is widely anticipated to leave Bergamo this summer with Manchester United understood to be ahead of Atletico Madrid in the race for his signature.

While Keita is a different profile to the Brazilian, he is reported to fit the technical criteria Raffaele Palladino’s side are working to ahead of next season.

Atalanta scouts watch Keita closely as Parma hold firm on valuation

Atalanta’s interest remains at an exploratory stage for now, with club scouts having watched Keita on multiple occasions to assess his physical qualities and ability to break into opposition lines.

No formal offer has been submitted by any of the interested clubs.

Keita arrived at Parma from Antwerp in the summer of 2024 for around €13 million and has developed into one of the cornerstones of Carlos Cuesta’s side.

Parma are under no financial pressure to sell, though as is often the case, the right offer could change the picture quickly.

Alessandro Bastoni remains Barcelona’s top target to strengthen their defence, but growing interest in Cristian Romero is creating uncertainty for Inter ahead of a crucial week in negotiations.

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The Italian club had been preparing to open formal talks with Barcelona, with both parties initially aligned on progressing a deal.

However, according to Spanish outlet Sport, the emergence of the Tottenham centre-back as a viable and potentially cheaper alternative has introduced tension into the situation. Inter are actively working under the assumption that Bastoni could be sold and have already begun shaping their transfer strategy accordingly.

Barcelona open to Romero as alternative to Inter’s Bastoni

At the heart of the issue is valuation. Inter are holding firm at around €60m for Bastoni, while Barcelona are reluctant to go beyond €50m unless player exchanges are included. That gap has raised concerns in Milan that pushing too hard could drive Barcelona towards Romero, whose overall cost is expected to be lower.

Bastoni himself is understood to be open to the move and keen on the opportunity to join Barcelona. Personal terms are not expected to be an obstacle, with the Spanish side capable of matching and improving his current salary. The defender is unlikely to force the situation publicly, but internally he is ready to signal his desire for a transfer if needed.

For now, Barcelona continue to prioritise Bastoni, but Romero remains firmly on their shortlist and is also open to the switch. With Inter needing to sell and alternatives available, the coming days could prove decisive in determining whether Bastoni’s move materialises or collapses.

Italian coach Roberto De Zerbi sent out a warning to Tottenham Hotspur players and fans as they battle relegation from the Premier League. ‘Losers cry and think negative.’

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The former Benevento, Sassuolo, Shakhtar Donetsk, Brighton and Olympique Marseille tactician took over from Igor Tudor as the third coach of a seemingly cursed campaign at Spurs on March 31.

He has overseen a 1-0 defeat to Sunderland, 2-2 draw against his old club Brighton, and 1-0 victory away to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

They are still in the relegation zone, but De Zerbi used today’s press conference to send out a strong message.

De Zerbi refusing to let Tottenham give up

“I heard, ‘It is impossible’. We are crying, everyone, ‘We are relegated.’ Not yet,” noted the Italian.

“We have to die on the pitch and to die on the pitch we have to lose the game. Before losing the game, we have to play and we have to fight.

“We have two points less than West Ham and they have to play a difficult game as well. It is not the best moment for us. It is a tough and difficult moment.

“But the losers cry, the losers think negative. I don’t want people close to me to be crying or think in a different way from me.”

😢 "The losers cry, the losers think negative."

Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi says his players have to "die on the pitch" and stay emotionally positive in their battle against relegation. pic.twitter.com/S3d8fi4dEI

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) May 1, 2026

It has been said for decades that Tottenham have a sense of negativity about them, which can see the club under various different managers and players manage to fumble successful situations.

De Zerbi decided to attack the ‘Spursy’ reputation head-on, just as Antonio Conte had done before him.

“The most important challenge now is to silence the voice inside of us. Inside of the players, the staff and the fans,” continued the Italian.

“This voice produces negative thoughts and it says we are unlucky, we have too many injuries, we lost Xavi Simons, he was in the last two games one of our best and most important players.

“Our medical staff not good enough, the pitch of the stadium and the training ground is not good, it is impossible winning two or three games in a row because we have not won too many games in 2026.

“I think these are all negative things and it’s rubbish because I want to keep my focus on ourselves and the quality of my players.”

Roberto De Zerbi picked up his first win as Tottenham Hotspur coach, but the result was not enough to significantly improve their fight for Premier League survival.

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The Italian coach had called for a turning point ahead of the clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers, and his side delivered a narrow 1-0 victory thanks to a late goal from Joao Palhinha.

It marks a first success after three weeks in charge for De Zerbi, who was brought in to try and pull off a difficult escape from the relegation zone. However, the situation remains complicated.

De Zerbi still two points off of safety despite first Spurs win

Despite the win, Spurs stay third from bottom on 34 points, as results elsewhere went against them. West Ham United secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Everton, keeping themselves above the drop zone and maintaining a two-point gap over Tottenham.

For De Zerbi, the performance offers a sign of life and a potential foundation to build on, but with only a handful of games remaining, time is running out to close the gap and avoid relegation.

The coach said when he arrived that he would be coach next season, no matter what, and the prospect of one of Italy’s best coaches managing in England’s second tier is a very real possibility.