Tottenham to axe liability player with LaLiga ace one of two tipped to give Conte gigantic upgrade
Tottenham “have already started” the process of replacing a fallen star and one observer claims a Sevilla player is atop their replacement list, though an Atletico Madrid megastar cannot be discounted.
Whether Antonio Conte will remain at the Spurs helm beyond this season is as yet unclear. The Italian is out of contract at season’s end and will not lack for options if he returns to his homeland.
However, in the event Spurs do convince Conte to pen fresh terms, all eyes will be on the club’s summer window.
Many areas of Tottenham’s squad have already been addressed on Conte’s watch. However, two positions in particular – goalkeeper and centre-half – require urgent attention.
Regarding the former, club stalwart Hugo Lloris has experienced a remarkable decline in recent times. Indeed, the French veteran, 36, currently leads the league in errors leading to a goal this season with four.
What makes that statistic all the more alarming is the fact no other player across all positions has more than two.
Calls have begun to grow for Lloris to be moved on, or at the very least benched. His current contract expires in the summer of 2024.
Indeed, pundit Graeme Souness claimed Lloris is “past his sell-by date.” Sky Sports’ Tottenham specialist, Lyall Thomas, stressed Lloris’ error-strewn displays are “breeding uncertainty” in his teammates.
Now, speaking to Caught Offside, football agent Haydn Dodge described a goalkeeping change next season as “inevitable.”
Two potential Lloris successors named
Dodge claimed Spurs have “already started” looking for a new stopper and insisted Sevilla’s Yassine Bounou is their top priority.
However, the agent also touted the idea of what would be an incredibly eye-catching swoop for Atletico Madrid’s ultra-reliable Jan Oblak.
The Slovenian, 30, is among world football’s truly top tier goalkeepers. Oblak is a five-time winner of LaLiga’s Zamora Trophy which is awarded to the goalkeeper who returns the lowest ratio of goals conceded per game each season.
He was also named LaLiga’s Player of the Year for the 2020-21 campaign.
Dodge cited Tottenham’s “strong relationship” with Atletico as one avenue they could look to explore over a move for Oblak.
“A change of goalkeeper [at Spurs] is inevitable,” said Dodge.
“Hugo Lloris is 36 years old and with inconsistencies and injuries creeping into his game, Spurs have already started looking for a new number one.
“I know Sevilla’s Yassine Bounou is right at the top of their list so I expect them to try and do something there in the summer.”
The agent added: “I’d also expect Jan Oblak to come into the picture considering Spurs’ strong relationship with Atletico Madrid.”
Tottenham and Atletico love to do business
Spurs and Atletico have been frequent trading partners in recent years. Kieran Trippier moved to Madrid in 2019, while Sergio Reguilon also walked that same path when joining on a season-long loan last summer.
The latest to move between the clubs was Matt Doherty in January. Tottenham agreed to terminate the Irishman’s contract on deadline day to allow Doherty to sign for Atletico outright.
The Evening Standard talked up a Spurs move for Oblak back in October and also claimed the Slovenian great is “ready to move to the Premier League” after nine-plus years in Spain.
