Journalist and transfer insider Dean Jones believes Tottenham Hotspur will find it hard to replace goalkeeper Hugo Lloris when he moves on from the club.
The Lilywhites are enduring a tough season, sitting outside of the top four with seven matches to play.
Former manager Antonio Conte left the club after labelling the players as “selfish” in the aftermath of a late collapse to draw with bottom club Southampton, and interim boss Christian Stellini has overseen a draw to Everton and Saturday’s late home defeat to Bournemouth either side of a controversial win over Brighton and Hove Albion.
Tottenham goalkeeper update
Lloris joined Spurs in 2012 and was named permanent captain of the club in 2015. During this time he has also captained the French national team to World Cup glory in 2018, and a World Cup final in 2022.
However, with his contract expiring in 2024, this summer is chairman Daniel Levy’s last chance to cash in on Lloris before he is able to leave on a free next summer.
Despite still putting in performances this season that have been hailed as “world-class” – in the eyes of journalist Josh Bunting – there is a feeling in North London that the club need to start planning for life without the 36-year-old.
However, Jones believes replacing the £110k-per-week man will be no simple task.
What has Dean Jones said about Hugo Lloris’ future?
Speaking in an interview with This is Futbol, Jones stated his belief that finding a replacement goalkeeper will be a tricky endeavour.
On Lloris’ future at Spurs, the journalist said:
“It’s never easy (to sign a new goalkeeper) because of the pressure that comes on that role. If you make early high-profile mistakes and don’t recover from them, you’re immediately a flop and the team then suffer as a consequence. So that’s another thing to take into consideration when you’re replacing somebody of Lloris’ experience.”
What’s next for Hugo Lloris?
After announcing his retirement from international football following France’s defeat to Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final, it is clear the Nice-born shot-stopper’s career at the highest level is beginning to wind down.
He was described as a ‘liability in the games that matter‘ by former Spurs player Garth Crooks after his performance in a North London derby defeat to Arsenal and has made four errors leading to a goal this campaign.
As Spurs look to rebuild under a new permanent manager in the summer, as Jones states, Levy will have a tough job on his hands to replace someone with such an impressive legacy at the club.