Napoli Push to Swap Vicario for Milinkovic-Savic in No-Fee Summer Deal

Napoli are exploring a straight swap that would send Vanja Milinkovic-Savic to Tottenham in exchange for Guglielmo Vicario, according to Italian broadcaster Rai.

The report, relayed by TuttoMercatoWeb, says Napoli see the deal as a clean way to fix two goalkeeping situations without any cash changing hands.

Why Napoli Are Ready To Move On From Milinkovic-Savic

The push behind this one is new management, not a falling out with the previous regime. Antonio Conte left Napoli at the end of May, and Massimiliano Allegri has since taken over on a three-year deal. Allegri is reportedly leaning toward handing the number one shirt back to Alex Meret, which leaves Milinkovic-Savic surplus to requirements less than a year after he arrived.

Napoli signed him on loan from Torino in 2025 with an obligation to buy worth around €21m, a deal that has since been converted into a permanent transfer. He is a 6’8″ presence with plenty of Serie A experience, and he is reportedly also being floated to Hull City and Leeds United, though he has shown little enthusiasm for a move to either club.

Where Vicario Fits Into This

Vicario has struggled to hit the heights in England that he managed at Empoli, and a return to Italy could suit both player and club. Napoli are not the only Serie A side sniffing around him either, with Juventus also credited with interest, largely as a fallback option if their move for Emiliano Martinez does not come off.

For Tottenham, the appeal of a swap is straightforward. Antonin Kinsky remains first choice this season, and Spurs are already committed to significant spending elsewhere this window, having also added Martin Dubravka as backup depth. Bringing in Milinkovic-Savic on top of that would be more about squeezing value out of Vicario’s exit than addressing a real need.

How Close Is This To Actually Happening

Swap deals rarely move quickly. Both clubs need to agree on valuations and contract terms, and both players need to be sold on the move, so there is a lot of ground to cover before anything gets close to done. Tottenham’s broader summer recruitment activity suggests the club are moving with purpose, and nothing here has been confirmed by either side just yet.

The presence of Juventus, Hull City and Leeds in the background also means Napoli have other options if this particular swap stalls. Right now this sits as an early-stage idea rather than an advanced negotiation. Expect Italian outlets with strong Napoli and Torino sourcing to be first with any real movement if talks progress.