Tottenham are on the hunt for a goalkeeper they believe has the potential to be Hugo Lloris’ long-term replacement this summer, football.london understands. For many years, Daniel Levy and the Spurs board have not had to worry about an upgrade in the goalkeeping department, with the French World Cup-winning shot-stopper having been the club’s firm No. 1 since arriving from Lyon in 2012.
However, as Lloris enters the latter part of his career, and his current contract, the north London club are understood to be finally looking to bring in the Frenchman's heir apparent at the end of this season. football.london understands that some of the names on Spurs’ shortlist include Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, Brentford's David Raya, Brighton stopper Robert Sanchez and AC Milan's Mike Maignan.
However, the club appears to have narrowed down its options to another ‘keeper in the form of Aston Villa’s World-Cup-winner Emiliano Martinez. At the 2022 Qatar World Cup, the Argentine performed heroics in the final to help his national side claim the ultimate prize.
READ MORE: Tottenham's summer goalkeeper transfer shortlist revealed with Hugo Lloris future to be decided
Just a matter of weeks after firmly launching himself onto the world’s stage, Spurs sporting director Fabio Paratici now wants to bring Martinez back to north London after previously being on Arsenal’s books for eight years. Argentine media outlet TyC Sports claim interest is ramping up in the 30-year-old.
Reporter Gastón Edul suggest Spurs’ interest has advanced sufficiently that Paratici could launch an offer in the coming weeks. Tottenham will hope to test Villa’s resolve, although Unai Emery’s side face little pressure to sell this summer due to his deal running until 2027.
Martinez has been something of a late-bloomer in footballing terms, with his career only really taking off towards the end of his stint at Arsenal. The ‘keeper was sold to Aston Villa two-and-a-half years ago, and a move to the Gunners’ arch rivals could prove a satisfying way for Martinez to prove his old employers wrong when they felt he was surplus to requirements.
His Villa lifeline finally gave the shot-stopper regular Premier League games after only making 11 top-flight starts in nine years for Arsenal. Fast forward to the World Cup and Martinez, who kept three clean sheets in Qatar, was one of the stars of the final, denying France’s Randal Kolo Muani at the death before starring in the shootout, as he did against Netherlands in the quarter-finals.
football.london first reported in December that Spurs are planning to make a move for a new long-term first choice goalkeeper this summer, having had a couple of misfiring attempts to do so in the past. Antonio Conte's future as Tottenham manager is in doubt and if he does depart, then the next head coach will have a big say in what is a key position within any team.
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