De Zerbi Eyes Juventus Midfielder Locatelli as First Tottenham Recruit; Vicario Set for Inter Exit

Roberto De Zerbi wasted little time in outlining his vision after taking the Tottenham hotspur helm on Tuesday evening, putting pen to paper on a five-year agreement with the north London club.

The Italian boss made his intentions crystal clear upon confirmation of his appointment, emphasising the scale of the challenge ahead. "I am delighted to be joining this fantastic football club, which is one of the biggest and most prestigious in the world," De Zerbi stated. "In all my discussions with the Club's leadership, their ambition for the future has been clear – to build a team capable of reaching great achievements, and to do that playing a style of football that excites and inspires our supporters."

He continued: "I am here because I believe in that ambition and have signed a long-term contract to give everything to deliver it. Our short-term priority is to climb the Premier League table, which will be the complete focus until the final whistle of the last game of the season. I'm looking forward to getting out on the training pitch and working with these players to achieve that."

With Spurs sitting precariously just one point above the relegation zone with seven matches remaining, De Zerbi's immediate focus must be survival rather than squad reconstruction. Nevertheless, reports suggest the new manager has already begun plotting his summer recruitment strategy.

According to Italian sources, De Zerbi has identified Manuel Locatelli as his preferred first signing, should Tottenham secure Premier League safety. The Juventus midfielder, 28, represents a reunion of sorts – the pair previously collaborated during their time together at Sassuolo. Locatelli has amassed 222 appearances for the Turin giants over five seasons and has featured in 39 matches this campaign, with his contract running through 2028.

While De Zerbi's hands are tied by the immediate survival scramble, he has apparently discussed potential targets with Spurs' hierarchy during preliminary talks, with Locatelli featuring prominently in those conversations. Any move for the Italian midfielder would likely hinge on Tottenham avoiding the drop to the Championship.

On the outgoing front, goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario appears destined for the exit door. Italian reports claim the shot-stopper has already agreed terms with Inter Milan, with a fee in the region of £17m (€20 million) mooted. Should Spurs avoid relegation, the valuation is expected to hold firm; however, a drop into the EFL could see that figure diminish.

Inter are understood to be offering Vicario a four-year contract worth €3.5 million per season, representing an attractive proposition for the goalkeeper as he eyes a fresh challenge in Serie A.