Juventus agree deal to sign Vicario after cooling Martinez interest

Juventus have agreed a deal with Tottenham to sign Guglielmo Vicario on an initial season-long loan.

The agreement also includes an £8.5m (€10m) option to buy the Spurs goalkeeper permanently.

Juventus had previously been targeting Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez but cooled their interest after a £8.5m (€10m) was rejected by the Premier League club.

Villa's valuation and Martinez's ongoing injury issues, including a knock to his finger, then led to Juventus turning their attention to Vicario as talks regarding a return to Italy, after joining Spurs from Empoli in 2023, intensified.

Sky in Italy reported Villa agreed £29.9m (€35m) deal with Parma to sign Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, who Juventus were also targeting on loan if he completed a move to Paris Saint-Germain.

Suzuki's proposed move to PSG stalled and gave Villa fresh encouragement to move for the Japan World Cup star.

The pursuit of Suzuki now leaves Martinez's future at Villa in doubt. His current deal at the club is set to expire in 2029.

Speaking on August 5, a representative of the player told Sky Sports News that he was happy at Villa and was looking forward to the new season.

The Argentina World Cup-winning goalkeeper has never asked to leave Villa Park, even amid interest from Manchester United last summer and Juventus and Inter Milan this summer, according to Gustavo Goñi of agency Universal TwentyTwo.

Martinez will only leave with the blessing of Villa and if a deal suits all parties.