Tottenham, Arsenal in major summer scrap to land £22m Serie A goalkeeper

Arsenal and Tottenham have reportedly expressed an interest in signing Lazio goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha this summer.

Strakosha came through the youth ranks at the Italian club, after joining Lazio as a youngster in 2012, and he has established himself as the firm No. 1 in Rome, having made 122 appearances over the past three seasons.

The 24-year-old kept 13 clean sheets last campaign to help Lazio finish a disappointing ninth in Serie A, while he also won seven caps for Albania.

His impressive form over the last couple of seasons looks to have alerted a number of Europe’s top clubs, with Gazzetta dello Sport claiming that both the Gunners and Spurs want to bring him to England.

And the report goes on to add that Lazio are ready to do business, if an offer of £22m is put on the table, despite being keen to keep the player.

Gazzetta also states that Strakosha is open to the idea of playing in the Premier League as he is ‘fascinated’ by the atmosphere of English football.

Arsenal are expected to be in the market for a new stopper, with Petr Cech now retired and David Ospina on the verge of completing a permanent move to Napoli following a successful loan spell last season.

Tottenham’s need is slightly less obvious, given that Hugo Lloris is club captain and they have a firmly established back-up in Pablo Gazzaniga – who impressed when called upon last season.

Michel Vorm has, however, moved on but it would be difficult to keep three keepers of the standard of Lloris, Gazzaniga and Strakosha all on the books, especially when Mauricio Pochettino has other areas of his squad that need more urgent attention – namely central midfield and potentially two new full backs.