Hugo Lloris, the veteran goalkeeper of Tottenham Hotspur, is confronted with a challenging situation as he remains at the club beyond the Premier League transfer deadline. Brad Friedel, his former Spurs teammate, shares insights into Lloris’s current predicament and predicts his next moves.
Lloris had expressed his desire to seek a fresh challenge away from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at the start of June. Despite prior links with clubs like Lazio and Nice, a suitable move has not materialized, leaving him in an uncertain position.
Friedel acknowledges the uniqueness of Lloris’s situation, considering options where he might become a second-choice goalkeeper could require relocating his family, which might not be appealing. Lloris, a World Cup winner and France’s captain, currently finds himself as Spurs’ fifth-choice goalkeeper with no involvement in the team.
The decision to terminate his contract ultimately rests with Lloris. Should he choose this route, a payout may be involved, and it’s unlikely that Tottenham would demand a transfer fee at this stage. If he finds a club where he can secure the position of the first-choice goalkeeper, he may consider terminating his contract; otherwise, he may decide to see out his contract with Tottenham.
Tottenham’s ongoing search for Lloris’s long-term successor led to the acquisition of Guglielmo Vicario from Empoli this summer. The Italian goalkeeper has shown promise at his new club, although he must adapt to the fast-paced Premier League.
Friedel highlights the contrast in tempo between Italian and Premier League football, noting that Vicario’s performance against Brentford appeared slightly nervy. However, he hopes Vicario will acclimate to the Premier League’s pace and become an asset for Tottenham.
Tottenham made a total of nine summer signings, including the permanent acquisitions of Pedro Porro and Dejan Kulusevski. Their transfer activities concluded with a £47.5 million deal for Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson. Although Johnson has yet to make his debut due to signing late, Friedel believes he will be a valuable addition to Postecoglou’s squad.
Friedel praises Johnson’s qualities as an energetic, lively, and pacey player, aligning with the type of player Ange Postecoglou desires. He considers Johnson an excellent signing, reflecting the club’s preparedness with both plan A (retaining Harry Kane) and plan B (securing Brennan Johnson).
Tottenham’s performance in the Burnley game displayed their confidence, and Friedel believes they enter the international break on a positive note.