Spurs Shut the Door on Trafford as De Zerbi Backs Kinsky Between the Sticks

Tottenham aren’t just busy this summer — they’re relentless. After two grim seasons meandering in the bottom half, the board’s finally cracked open the war chest, and Roberto De Zerbi is being backed to the hilt. Big cheques have already landed for Jan Paul van Hecke, Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, a club-record outlay that screams: enough is enough.

Trafford talk? Not happening

With Guglielmo Vicario expected to head back to Italy, it’s no surprise keepers have been linked left, right and centre. Manchester City’s James Trafford — a £27m arrival from Burnley only last year — has inevitably cropped up after slipping down the pecking order once Gianluigi Donnarumma rocked up at the Etihad. Pep Guardiola has lauded the lad’s reliability, but Spurs aren’t biting.

Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge has poured cold water on it, stating Tottenham don’t view Trafford as a target this window. In other words: thanks, but no thanks.

The takeaway is clear: Tottenham aren’t moving for James Trafford; Antonin Kinsky is being backed as the No 1; and Dubravka has been brought in to push him from the bench.

Kinsky gets the gloves — and De Zerbi’s trust

Antonin Kinsky earned his stripes at the back end of last season, stepping in for Vicario and looking the part over the final seven matches. He’s now inked a new deal, and De Zerbi’s verdict has been emphatic: Kinsky’s late-season form was instrumental, his standards on and off the pitch have been exemplary, and the club is convinced he’s got the ceiling to grow into one of Europe’s best keepers — with Spurs touted as the perfect finishing school.

What’s next in the window?

The shopping list isn’t filed away yet. After shoring up the back line and adding steel in midfield, Tottenham still want a winger and could yet move for a striker before the deadline. The message from Hotspur Way is unmistakable: this rebuild is serious, and it’s being done at pace.

If you’re keeping tabs on the market swings while this Spurs overhaul unfolds, our guide to the best betting sites will keep you in the know.

Pundit’s verdict

This is joined-up thinking from Tottenham. Rather than panic-buy a name like Trafford for the sake of it, they’re backing the keeper who’s earned the shirt and creating real competition behind him. Add that to the heavy lifting already done in defence and midfield, and you can see why Spurs fans might finally fancy their chances of swapping survival scraps for European nights again.