Tottenham and Aston Villa lead the race to sign the 6 foot 6 powerhouse for £34m
Tottenham could be forced to make a goalkeeper decision this summer, with Benifica's Anatoliy Trubin emerging as a possible answer if Guglielmo Vicario returns to Italy.
Trubin has built an unusually impressive career for a goaltender who won't turn 25 until August.
The Ukrainian joined Shakhtar Donetsk's youth academy and started playing in May 2019. By the 20/21 season, he had replaced the more experienced Andriy Pyatov as Shakhtar's regular goalkeeper and was playing Champions League football at a young age.
UEFA highlighted his 6ft 6 height, concentration and footwork after he started five of the club's six Shakhtar Champions League games that campaign and recorded three clean sheets.
His performance against Real Madrid was crucial to his growing popularity.
Trubin kept a clean sheet in Shakhtar's 2-0 win over the Spanish giants in December 2020, making a number of saves and showing the composure needed to make the squad.
He ended up playing 94 games for Shakhtar, winning three Ukrainian league titles and the Ukrainian Super Cup before Benfica signed him in August 2023.
Benfica offered Trubin a contract until 2028 and immediately made him their first choice goalkeeper.
He reached 100 appearances for the Portuguese club in July 2025 and has gained extensive experience in the Primeira Liga and Europe.
His extraordinary moment for Benfica came against Real Madrid again in January 2026. With Benfica needing another goal to stay in the Champions League, Trubin stepped up to receive a stoppage time free-kick and scored a diving goal in the 98th minute to complete a 4–2 win.
This goal secured Benfica's place in the playoffs and made him only the fifth goalkeeper to score in the Champions League.
That moment showed his bravery, but his usual work is still very active at Tottenham.
Trubin offers great reach and a commanding presence on crosses, and is used to playing for dominant sides who ask their goalkeeper to initiate attacks, defend behind the top line and stay alert for long periods without facing shots.
Those demands would make him a logical reference for Roberto De Zerbi, and Spurs may need a number one because Vicario's future has been uncertain for a long time.
He played 43 times last season despite undergoing hernia surgery in March, and one of his eight appearances against Chelsea was named the Premier League's Goalkeeper of the Season.
However, Juventus have been linked with a return to Serie A for Vicario, while Aston Villa are in a similar position with Emiliano Martínez.
He was left out of Tottenham's pre-season travel squad due to what the club described as a minor injury, although reports in Italy interpreted the decision as another sign that a move was possible.
Martínez, on the other hand, remains under contract at Villa Park until 2029, but Juventus have pursued the Argentina international and an opening bid has reportedly been rejected.
TalkSPORT previously reported that Martínez is interested in joining Juventus, although no agreement has been reached between the clubs.
Amidst this goalkeeper uncertainty, an update has emerged on Trubin's future, involving both Spurs and Villa.
Tottenham and Aston Villa are leading the race to sign Anatoliy Trubin
According to journalist Alessio Lento, those circumstances have brought Tottenham and Villa in the race for Trubin, Benfica worth around £34 million.
Lento says that two Premier League clubs are currently ahead of Juventus, while Spurs are looking at the Ukrainian as a replacement for Vicario and Villa are evaluating him as a replacement for Martínez.
No official bid or deal has been reported. Benfica is also in a strong position to negotiate because Trubin's contract still has two more years left.
However, his age, experience and possession-based footballing ability make him a credible target for Tottenham.
If Vicario leaves, Spurs will be losing a Premier League goalkeeper.
Trubin wouldn't be a safe replacement, but his Champions League pedigree and long-term potential could give De Zerbi a goalkeeper capable of developing into one of the strongest in Europe, and the same can be said for Villa.
