Tottenham could bring forward their plans to sign a new goalkeeper to January, with Guglielmo Vicario not expected to be fit until after the transfer window closes.
On Monday, Vicario had surgery on a broken foot, suffered when he landed awkwardly in a challenge with Savinho after half-an-hour of Saturday's 4-0 win over Manchester City.
The Italian completed the game but was sent for a scan on Sunday, which revealed he had broken a bone in his ankle.
Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou will have to rely on 36-year-old Fraser Forster until Vicario returns or Spurs can sign a new goalkeeper.
The club already planned to bring in younger competition for Vicario, most likely in the summer, but could now bring forward their plans to the winter window.
Spurs have not put a timeline on Vicario's return, with Postecoglou expected to provide an update on Wednesday, but he is not expected back until after January, which might persuade the club to sign a new goalkeeper early in the window at the start of next year.
They could sign a free agent before then but cannot register new players until the window opens.
"Sometimes football gives you its highs, and sometimes it challenges you in ways you don't expect," Vicario wrote on social media. "I played 60 minutes at the Etihad with a broken bone in my ankle, giving absolutely everything I had for the team.
"Unfortunately there was no way around this one. I needed surgery. I'm disappointed I won't be able to help the team for a while."
Forster is expected to make his fourth appearance of the season against Roma in the Europa League on Thursday, before a first Premier League start since May 2023 in Sunday's visit of Fulham.
Goalkeepers Brandon Austin and Alfie Whiteman, both academy graduates without a senior appearance for Spurs to their names, are also part of Postecoglou's first-team squad.
