When Guglielmo Vicario first walked through the doors of Hotspur Way on Monday he might just have felt the weight of expectation upon his broad shoulders.
For this will be the first time that Tottenham have signed a goalkeeper to become their immediate first choice in 11 years. The 26-year-old will arrive for around €19million (£16.3million), which while a bargain deal for the highly-rated Empoli stopper, is the most Spurs have splashed out on the position since they bought Hugo Lloris from Lyon in 2012 for £12million.
There will be a changing of the guard this summer and how quickly the Spurs captain can find - or is allowed to move on to - his next club will determine the length of the awkward time in between his exit and Vicario's arrival.
"We are coming to an important moment, whether for the club or for me. It’s the end of an era. I have desires for other things, I will ask myself quietly to study what will be possible," the Frenchman told French newspaper Nice-Matin this month. "But I don't forget that I still have a year of contract with Tottenham and that in football it is always difficult to predict what will happen."
Lloris is expected to get his move, with Vicario's arrival paving the way for his exit. For his and the young goalkeeper's sake it might just be better if the Frenchman were to depart sooner rather than later. Spurs' non-internationals are due to start pre-season from this Saturday while the internationals return on July 12, just days before the club's tour to Australia and Asia.
As Vicario remained on the bench for Italy's recent Nations League finals matches, he may feel ready to join up with his new head coach sooner and if he does then Lloris could still be there.
The club captain is a huge presence within Spurs and while, ever the professional, the 36-year-old would no doubt look to help the Italian settle in, a clean break and a new era might be best for all concerned as Ange Postecoglou takes the helm.
The Australian will not want anyone whose heart lies elsewhere, however professional they may be about it with their head.
It is as much time for a change for Lloris as it is for Tottenham and Spurs see Vicario as the man who can take on the mantle for the next 11 years himself.
While Lloris earned criticism last season as his game became more erratic and he picked up injuries, that should not overshadow what a huge part he has played at the club for more than a decade.
The World Cup winner has saved Spurs far, far more points than he has ever lost them and the Frenchman has saved them millions over the years in needing to secure a new number one.
Vicario will have big shoes to fill and a big point to prove at a club where it will seem unnatural to see anyone else but Lloris between the sticks. The 26-year-old is ready for the step up though.
Vicario has been earning plaudits across Italy thanks to his rapid development in the past two seasons after helping keep then-promoted Empoli up the Serie A table with his ability in goal, first on loan from Cagliari before joining permanently last summer.
Inter, Juventus, Napoli, Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Brighton have all been credited with a strong interest in him in recent months.
After exploring a move for Brentford's David Raya, Spurs had to move fast for Vicario due to the widespread belief that Inter were set to approach Empoli for the goalkeeper to make him their new number one if their stopper Andre Onana moves this summer, with United and Chelsea interested in the Cameroonian. Inter have now been credited with an interest in Lloris as a potential replacement if Onana does move on.
Spurs also had to factor in securing a goalkeeper who could fit Postecoglou's demands for someone who as well as being a top shot stopper can also get the ball moving quickly, with little hesitation, in starting to build up possession from the back for the Australian's relentless attacking brand of football.
football.london reported this week that Fabio Paratici, who is still involved on a consultancy basis with the north London club, had long been an admirer of Vicario, along with chief scout Leonardo Gabbanini, and had made enquires about the shot-stopper's availability earlier this year.
Spurs knew all about the goalkeeper and the fact that football.london understands Vicario has been working a lot on his ability with his feet in recent years, leading to a marked improvement, he should fit the Postecoglou system like a glove. The feeling within Spurs is that the Italian's entire game has improved rapidly yet he has such a high ceiling that he can still continue to get better.
Vicario needs to make far more of an impact than Paratici's last Italian goalkeeping acquisition, Pierluigi Gollini. Both Paratici and then head coach Nuno Espirito Santo were vocal around the club about their expectations that the on-loan Atalanta keeper would swiftly take Lloris' place.
He did not and never made the impact expected. By the end of the season he returned to Italy without the option taken to make his loan move a permanent one. Gollini spent most of last season on Napoli's bench as they won the Serie A title.
Vicario will look to make far more of an impact at Tottenham and he will have pressure on his shoulders to do so. He will be replacing the best Spurs goalkeeper of the modern era, playing in a system very different to the one he stood behind at Empoli and he needs to show the fans that he is far from simply 'the cheap option' in the goalkeeper stakes.
There could be an awkward moment if Vicario and Lloris meet next month but it need not be. It's a natural moment of succession and it's fitting that the name Guglielmo is the Italian version of William. That name means "resolute protector" and that's exactly what Tottenham and Postecoglou need right now and for the foreseeable future.
