Today is apparently Goalie Day if you cover Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. Fresh on the heels of the club signing Martin Dubravka, and the news that starting keeper Guglielmo Vicario will be sold this summer. Jack Pitt-Brooke at The Athletic is now writing that Spurs are opening talks with Antonin Kinsky on a new extended contract.
This would seemingly confirm the reports that Kinsky is set to take over
the #1 jersey from Vicario, who has interest from Italian clubs including Juventus and Lazio. Kinsky is currently 18 months into a five year contract, but a new deal would probably tack on a year to what’s left and also give him a vastly improved salary, commensurate to his status as Spurs’ starting keeper.
This would leave Spurs with a keeper corps of Kinsky, Dubravka, and homegrown/club-trained academy graduate Brandon Austin.
It’s a remarkable turnaround for Kinsky, who was humiliated last spring after slipping twice on the pitch at the Wanda and conceding three early goals to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, before being humiliatingly subbed off by then-interim manager Igor Tudor. When Vicario was out injured after undergoing minor surgery, Kinsky took his redemption opportunity in both hands and put in a string of excellent performances at the end of last season under Roberto De Zerbi. The club clearly now thinks that Kinsky, 23, is ready to make the step up.
Playing a young keeper is always something of a gamble, but it’s a wonderful opportunity as well. Hugo Lloris was 25 when he joined Spurs in 2006 and he turned out to be one of Tottenham’s best keepers of all time. I’m not saying Antonin Kinsky will reach those heights, but considering his age he has the chance to establish himself now as Spurs’ long time #1. If he can do that, I don’t think anyone will be unhappy.
