Tottenham have been handed a huge blow in the race to secure top-four in the Premier League, with Hugo Lloris set to be out for up to eight weeks through injury. The 36-year-old suffered ligament damage in Spurs' 1-0 win over Manchester City on Sunday.
Lloris does not require an operation on his knee however he's expected to be on the sidelines for some time. With the Frenchman on the doctor's table, his absence will see Antonio Conte call up Fraser Forster.
The north Londoners signed the former Southampton shot-stopper in the summer to deputise Lloris and, in the event that he sustains a knock, fill in between the sticks. Forster penned a three-year deal with Tottenham in June as he became the second arrival of the window following Ivan Perisic.
READ MORE: When Antonio Conte will return and if Tottenham will sign Bastoni and Maddison in the summer
Next in the pecking order behind the England international is Brandon Austin and Alfie Whiteman — both of whom are products of the Spurs academy and are 24 years old. The former is yet to make his senior debut for the Lilywhites, meanwhile the latter has featured just once for Tottenham, coming off the bench in the Europa League in November 2020.
The north Londoners have several options at their disposal but Conte could be given permission to dabble in the transfer market to sign an emergency backup for Lloris. However, Tottenham must meet the requirements of said rule which allows them to do so.
There is a Premier League and EFL emergency loan rule, which permits clubs to sign a goalkeeper on a loan deal outside of the transfer window if all the goalkeepers in their first-team squad are unavailable due to injury or suspension.
As per the Premier League website, Forster, Austin and Whiteman are all named in Spurs' official first-team squad for the 2022/23 campaign. Therefore, with three 'senior' options still readily available to Conte, it seems unlikely that Tottenham will be given permission to activate the 'emergency loan rule' — especially seeing as, aforementioned, both Austin and Whiteman are not under-21.
But, for now, it remains to be seen whether or not the Premier League deem Tottenham eligible to do so.
READ NEXT:
When Antonio Conte will return and if Tottenham will sign Bastoni and Maddison in the summer
Tottenham learn FA Cup fifth round opponents after Sheffield United vs Wrexham replay
The seven Tottenham players who will step up for Antonio Conte in the second half of the season
What Antonio Conte said to Harry Kane in surprise phone call after Tottenham win vs Man City
Tottenham's next five fixtures compared to Arsenal, Man United and Newcastle in top four race
