25 January 2024 , 22:30
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Tottenham keeper Guglielmo Vicario deserves to be regarded as one of the signings of the season.
Former Spurs keeper Brad Friedel insists the Italian shot-stopper has been "crucial" to Ange Postecoglou's entertaining tactics and allows Tottenham to play high "risk."
Vicario, 27, was a bargain £19m summer signing from Empoli and is already being tipped as Italy's next long-term No1. Friedel said: "I think he's been a huge part of Tottenham's success so far. If you go to signing of the season, the Premier League has a lot of top signings.
"But I think for Tottenham, he was a crucial signing. And the goalkeeper was a crucial signing because they had such a good goalkeeper for 10 years in Hugo Louis. So it was a big change. But yeah, he'll be up there in the conversation for sure."
Friedel believes Liverpool's Alisson Becker and Aston Villa's No1 Emiliano Martinez are the best in the Premier League but says Vicario has potential and time to prove he can be up there with the best.
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Friedel added: “I've known about Emi for a while but Vicario, this is the first time I've taken a real deep dive in to him. He seems to have fit into Postecoglou's style and system. Even against Chelsea, when they had two players sent off but still played the high line, Vicario played off his line very well.
“His reaction saves and commanding of the box seem to be very good. I would still say Martinez and Alisson are the two best in the league in their all-round ability.
Guglielmo Vicario has been top-drawer this season (Kieran McManus/Tottenham Hotspur FC/REX/Shutterstock)“Both Villa and Tottenham play with a high line and when their back fours are breached, they've got very capable and able goalkeepers behind them.
“I think that allows the two teams to play with that little bit more confidence. They can play with more risk, knowing that when you do get exposed, you have just an outstanding goalkeeper behind you."
Friedel was talking to LiveScore Bet.