Tottenham Hotspur could be forced into the January transfer market to sign a new goalkeeper after Guglielmo Vicario underwent surgery on a fractured ankle.
Vicario played on in Tottenham’s stunning 4-0 victory over Manchester City, despite being hurt in a challenge from Savinho before half-time.
With the Italian having complained of still feeling pain after the game, he and Spurs were stunned to find out he had suffered a fracture to his right ankle that needed surgery.
The news came as a huge blow to Spurs and Vicario, and could force the club into the January transfer market to sign a new goalkeeper.
“Sometimes football gives you its highs, and sometimes it challenges you in ways you don’t expect,” Vicario wrote in a statement on Instagram. “I played 60 minutes at the Etihad with a broken bone in my ankle, giving absolutely everything I had for the team. Unfortunately, there was no way around this one. I needed surgery. I’m disappointed I won’t be able to help the team for a while.
“A massive thank you to the doctors and the staff. The operation went well, and from tomorrow I’ll be working hard to come back stronger, fitter, and ready to give my all for you again.”
Vicario is expected to be out for months rather than weeks, and the club had already been considering strengthening their goalkeeper department at the end of the season. That plan may now be accelerated, as head coach Ange Postecoglou will have to rely on 36-year-old Fraser Forster.
Vicario’s injury and the surprise it caused at Spurs has taken some of the shine off the superb victory over City in which he kept a clean sheet.
Forster has suffered a number of injury problems at Tottenham, but has made three appearances this season, in the Carabao Cup against Coventry City and in the Europa League against AZ Alkmaar and Galatasaray.
Tottenham entertain Roma in the Europa League on Thursday night before playing Fulham. They also face Chelsea and Liverpool in the league before January and host Manchester United in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.
