Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou has a swift decision to make.
Just when things were looking up for Ange Postecoglou, the Tottenham manager has been dealt a hammer blow. Less than 48 hours after his side stunned champions Manchester City with a 4-0 win at the Etihad, the Australian has learned that goalkeeper Vicario is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines following surgery on a fractured ankle. In the short term, 36-year-old Fraser Forster is likely to fill the void, with Spurs having two home games this week, Roma in the Europa League on Thursday, and Fulham four days later.
But with the transfer window not opening until January, Postecoglou may assess free agents to cover Vicario’s absence. Express Sport looks at the four most viable options…
Keylor Navas
Only made six appearances for PSG last season before being released, but at 37, Keylor Navas would at least bring a wealth of experience to north London. The Real Madrid icon, who won three Champions League crowns and a La Liga title with the Spanish club, is well accustomed to high-pressure situations on the elite stage.
Additionally, he has Premier League experience; during the 2022–2023 season, he played 17 games on loan for Nottingham Forest. The 114-cap Chilean international rejected a move to Al-Hilal last season, indicating that he is still driven by his career’s legacy rather than money and might be a useful stopgap.
Loris Karius
That Champions League final from 2017–18 will always be associated with Loris Karius, and unfortunately for him, not in a positive way. Eddie Howe fired him this summer after he only made two appearances in his previous two seasons at Newcastle.
Although there are still many questions about his dependability, Postecoglou is not a man who cares what other people think. Karius, who is still only 31 years old, is a player who is accustomed to playing football in England and ought to still be motivated to show why Jurgen Klopp brought him to Liverpool eight years ago. He’s also readily available.
Edgar Badia
Proven in La Liga and a staple with Elche before losing his place last year. Badia chose to end his contract with his original club this summer after that, which led to a loan move to Real Zaragoza.
That choice suggests that he still has a great ambition to play for the first squad. Having played regularly since January, although in the Segunda Division, the 32-year-old former Spanish age-grade international shouldn’t be rusty and might welcome the opportunity to revive his career in England.
Tomas Koubek
This summer, Koubek left Germany after his contract with Augsburg expired following five years in the Bundesliga. Having previously played in Ligue 1 with Rennes, he was only selected as the team’s first choice in his first season.
At 32, he still has something to contribute and has 11 Czech Republic international caps. He has only featured in 15 club games since 2020, so although he would be a cheap choice in terms of pay, the former Sparta Prague player would also be a significant risk.
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