Di Gregorio Rejects Tottenham Approach, Commits to Juventus
Tottenham Hotspur's pursuit of Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio has been rebuffed, with the Italian international reportedly committed to remaining in Turin. According to Italian publication TuttoSport, the 28-year-old has no plans to leave Juventus for the Premier League, dealing an early setback to new Spurs manager Roberto De Zerbi's transfer plans.
The report claims De Zerbi, who knows Di Gregorio from his time managing in Serie A, is an admirer and had identified him as a potential replacement for current Tottenham number one Guglielmo Vicario. TuttoSport states that Di Gregorio sees his future solely with Juventus, having only permanently joined the club from Monza last summer after a successful loan spell. He is under contract with the Bianconeri until 2029.
This development follows earlier reporting from TEAMtalk and subsequent confirmation by TuttoSport that Tottenham's hierarchy is prepared to sell Vicario at the end of the season. Sources indicated the Italian goalkeeper is keen on a return to Serie A and has been linked with a move to Inter Milan. Vicario joined Spurs from Empoli in 2023 and has been the first-choice keeper, but his form has been inconsistent during the current campaign.
With a goalkeeper search evidently underway, Tottenham's scouting network has been linked with several other options. Brighton's Bart Verbruggen, Manchester City's James Trafford, Sunderland's Robin Roefs, and Lens goalkeeper Robin Risse have all been mentioned as potential targets according to earlier reports. De Zerbi worked with Verbruggen during his tenure at Brighton, which could make the Dutchman a logical alternative.
Di Gregorio's decision underscores the challenge facing De Zerbi as he looks to reshape the Tottenham squad in his image. While his connections in Italian football are expected to be a key asset in the transfer market, attracting top talent from established Champions League clubs like Juventus remains difficult, especially without the lure of European football at the highest level next season. Tottenham currently sit 18th in the Premier League table.
The goalkeeper's career path, which began in Inter Milan's academy before successful stints at Monza and now Juventus, has been entirely in Italy. His apparent reluctance to move abroad at this stage is a significant factor in the collapsed interest. For Juventus, his commitment provides stability as they build under manager Thiago Motta.
Tottenham must now swiftly pivot to other targets to address what appears to be a priority position. The club's activity in the coming weeks will signal how decisive De Zerbi and sporting director Johan Lange can be in a crucial summer rebuild, with the goalkeeper situation presenting their first major test.
