Ange Postecoglou makes Tottenham free agent transfer stance clear after Guglielmo Vicario injury

Ange Postecoglou has ruled out the possibility of Tottenham signing a free agent in wake of Guglielmo Vicario's injury. Spurs confirmed on Monday evening that the Italian had undergone surgery for a fracture of his right ankle.

Vicario sustained the issue in last weekend's 4-0 win over Manchester City but managed to play on for the full game. The news that emerged 24 hours later came as a huge shock and Fraser Forster is now expected to take the Italian's place in goal over the coming months.

Spurs are not short on options when it comes to the goalkeeping department but some fans raised the question about the possibility of the north London club looking at signing a short-term replacement. It is not uncommon for clubs to be given special dispensation to sign an emergency goalkeeper when they have no senior cover in the goalkeeping department.

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However, as per the Premier League handbook under rule V.7.6.2, it states: "The temporary transfer of a goalkeeper which in its absolute discretion the board may allow in circumstances it considers to be exceptional." As Vicario is the only senior goalkeeper out injured at present, it is extremely unlikely that it would be classed as "exceptional" circumstances.

In regards to signing possible free agents, football.london understands that any player currently without a club would be able to play right away as there are currently two available spaces in Tottenham's 25-man squad. Even though there is that option there for Postecoglou and Spurs, the Australian has confirmed that is not going to happen.

"That's not going to happen," said Postecoglou in his pre-match press conference ahead of the Roma game. "That's why we've got a squad of players here. I don't think us signing a free agent now is going to help us.

"If I hadn't named Fraser in the Europa squad, then jeez that would've been a radical decision, and you're left with two, again they wouldn't be able to play in Europe, then you kind of look at it. Unless something else happened, that's why we've got four goalkeepers.

"There's young Luca but to be fair he's been injured so he's not really ready. Fraser I've known for a long time and he's such a strong character within the group and ready to play. Brandon's improving all the time and Alfie's been at the club for a while. Whenever they've been asked, in terms of the training capacity they bring, we're happy with what we've got."

Vicario's surgery was a major talking point in his press conference and the Spurs boss admitted that the goalkeeper's injury did come as a shock.

"I guess, a bit of a shock first of all," he said. "We saw he picked up an injury during the game. We saw at half-time but there was no doubt about him continuing. You kind of digest that. Post game he was sore but he played 60 minutes with a sore ankle. We will tape it up and go again.

"But, and I guess externally now people realise, it is a testament to him as a person. He is as tough as nails, as tough as they come. The fact he played at that level for 60 minutes with a fractured ankle was quite outstanding.

"When the shock off it wears off, you process he is going to be missing for a while. Knowing him, he will push the limits as to how long that is and you will get daily updates about that through his Instagram.

"Big blow, but for him personally I guess because he was having an outstanding season for us and really growing as a leader within the group. But we have dealt with setbacks before and we will deal with this."

On a possible return date, he added: "Not really. It’s not going to be weeks, it’ll be months. He’s had surgery and there’s certain timelines.

"Because it is Vic, and I don’t like giving timelines so early in a process like that because it puts undue pressure on the players and some expectations, but once we get past the rehab stage and he’s getting out there we’ll have a clearer idea."

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