07 January 2023 , 18:00
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Tottenham have targeted England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to replace captain Hugo Lloris.
Spurs believe they can tempt Pickford as his contract stand-off with Everton continues. His deal has 18 months to run and if he continues to snub improved terms, the 28-year-old could be open to a summer approach from Tottenham.
Lloris, 36, has been with the club for 10 years and reached last month’s World Cup final with France, but there is a feeling within the club that his best years are behind him. Pickford, who joined Everton from Sunderland for £25million five years ago, may be tempted by the chance of European football, especially with Everton once again in a relegation battle.
Chelsea have also registered an interest in the Three Lions shot-stopper. Lloris has made a few costly errors this season, with Liverpool legend and Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness saying he "is past his sell-by date".
"I'm not a fan of Lloris," Souness said after the Frenchman was guilty of a poor error in the defeat by Aston Villa on New Year's Day. "He is past his sell-by date. Since the start of last season, he has made four errors which have led to goals - that's the worst record of any goalkeeper."
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Jordan Pickford has impressed for Everton and England in recent years (Getty Images)Spurs boss Antonio Conte also voiced his frustration after Lloris parried a tame effort into Ollie Watkins' path, allowing him to tee up Emiliano Buendia to break the deadlock. The Italian told the BBC : "I'm sure that if we don't concede the goal, we could win the game instead. The goal that we conceded killed us in confidence and in many situations, for sure."
Despite Tottenham's growing concerns over Lloris, the France veteran has received rave reviews from Fraser Forster, who arrived at Spurs last summer and serves as the No.1's back-up. "I was aware coming in that Hugo was going to be the number one," Forster said, per football.london.
"He's a really good guy. He's very easy to get on with, like everyone in the changing room. We all know what he has achieved in the game. To be at a club like this for the amount time he has been, he's obviously doing something right. He's a World Cup winner. So, it's obviously been good to come in and train with him."