Reports in England suggest that Tottenham Hotspur are already making plans for a post-Hugo Lloris future, and have made Stoke City’s Asmir Begovic their number one target to replace the France goalkeeper.
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The Mirror reveal that Begovic has emerged as the ‘leading candidate’ to replace Lloris, who sources indicate ‘looks certain’ to leave White Hart Lane this summer.
While the stopper has not asked for a transfer, he has indicated that he is considering his options and is desperate to play in the Champions League [Sky Sports].
Despite moving to the Premier League three years ago, Lloris is yet to feature in Europe’s premier continental club competition with Tottenham—who have not been back to the Champions League since their foray into the tournament in 2011.
One club who could offer Lloris—who previously featured for Olympique Lyonnais in his homeland—a return to the continental showpiece is United.
The Red Devils look set to lose their own first-choice keeper David De Gea this summer, with Real Madrid having made the Spain international one of their chief summer transfer targets [Independent].
The 24-year-old is being considered as the natural successor to veteran keeper Iker Casillas, with Lloris being lined-up as De Gea’s likely successor in Manchester [Goal].
Another candidate to replace De Gea at Old Trafford is Stoke City stopper Begovic.
However, the Mirror indicate that while United will look to recruit Lloris from Spurs to replace De Gea, Tottenham themselves are eyeing Begovic as a potential successor for the French stopper.
Potters chief executive Tony Scholes recently admitted—speaking to the Daily Mail—that Begovic was considering his options, and a potential life away from the Britannia Stadium.
“We would very much like him to extend his contract, but I think Asmir has said himself that he is keeping his options open and seeing what might be available for him,” Scholes began.
“If I’m speaking frankly, I don’t know whether or who he might be speaking to. That’s not accusing him of anything, it’s just saying that’s the reality.”
Spurs may, however, face competition from both Inter Milan [ESPN] and AS Roma [Stoke Sentinel].