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With a Champions League final still to play against fierce rivals Liverpool, Tottenham and their fans cannot look too far into what may happen this summer at the club. Having secured a UCL place for next season after finishing fourth in the Premier League, Mauricio Pochettino's men can already claim to have had another successful season, especially considering the move into their new home stadium.
However, speculation has already begun. The future of their current stars and potential incomings have been regularly discussed, with one issue that needs to be considered regards club captain Hugo Lloris' situation.
There's no doubting the ability and influence of current France captain Lloris, who has enjoyed seven seasons in England's top-flight and been one of Spurs' most consistent performers during his spell. The problem now though, is that he has made many high-profile mistakes - being sent off in the Champions League group stage and blunders against both Chelsea and Liverpool among the more memorable this season.
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His dressing room presence is understandably significant and he appears to have a fantastic relationship with both the manager and his teammates, though the amount of mistakes he makes continues to increase and the growing frustration is the persistence of starting him when playing poorly.
Ligue 1 champions Paris-Saint Germain will almost certainly be in the hunt for a new goalkeeper this summer and a return to his homeland would potentially be of interest to the World Cup winner. Now more than ever could prove the opportune time for Daniel Levy to cash in on his first-choice goalkeeper, especially if they beat Liverpool on June 1 to win the Champions League for the first time in the club's history.
It would be a chance to develop and bring the club forward, adding a younger goalkeeping replacement and moving the captain's responsibility to Harry Kane or Jan Vertonghen. Will Paulo Gazzaniga be given an opportunity to earn the privilege as their new first-choice 'keeper and add competition to bolster their goalkeeping ranks?
With all of that in mind, here's a look at three goalkeepers that Spurs could consider signing this summer - should they cash in on Lloris:
#1 Jack Butland
The current Stoke city number one goalkeeper is still highly regarded despite playing the season in the second tier of English football. His form in the second half of the season especially has caught the eye and this summer should see the England goalkeeper return to the Premier League.
At the age of 26, Butland still has the opportunity to improve and develop, a trait in which Mauricio Pochettino is known for in his recruitment. Before he suffered the damaging ankle injury he was considered as the man to replace Joe Hart between the sticks on the international stage for England.
That injury certainly set the former Birmingham goalkeeper back, but on technique and ability he is still the best English goalkeeper and a fresh move to a club and with the manager in the stature of Pochettino would certainly revive his career.
His influence may be a characteristic which Pochettino would like to see improve; he is a commanding goalkeeper in terms of size and presence, but being the leader at the back may be where Butland could improve significantly.
Butland needs to play at the highest level in English football, whether Tottenham make a move for this England star is the question. Although there are Premier League clubs interested in Butland, will Tottenham add to this list?
#2 Alban Lafont
The Fiorentina and France under 21 international goalkeeper is regarded as one of the top prospects in Europe. The 20-year old has played regularly since he was 17 while at Toulouse and made his debut at the age of 16.
For Lafont, the next stage would have to be breaking into the full France squad and to put himself into a position where he could win trophies, and a move to North London with Tottenham would be the perfect fit.
Fiorentina signed the young goalkeeper for what has to be considered a real bargain in today's market: €7 million, so the fee to prize the Frenchman away from Florence might not be as commanding as some of the fees paid by Chelsea and Liverpool respectively last summer. A healthy profit should bring Lafont in and the club would get years out of him.
Lafont should be high on the list of replacements for Lloris, he possesses such talent, he can play out from the back, he is commanding in his box for such a tender age and ultimately his shot stopping is top quality. His decision making at times has come under question, but we have to remember this is a young goalkeeper playing his first season in a new country, therefore mistakes would be inevitable.
He is regarded as the future of France in regards to following Lloris as the number one goalkeeper for his country and Pochettino should regard him as the future of Tottenham again to replace Lloris.
His reputation is continually growing so a big move is inevitable for this young talented goalkeeper. Spurs could make a real statement by getting this deal and provide the club with longevity and a solid basis for years to come.
#3 Nick Pope
The Burnley goalkeeper had his breakthrough season in 2017-18, however, a dislocated shoulder hampered him this year to move forward and nail down the number one position at Turf Moor.
At the age of 27, Pope certainly has years in front of him, but with Tom Heaton regaining the number one jersey and the recognition on the international scene, Pope must be looking to develop his career further, which could mean making a move.
The one-time capped England goalkeeper is certainly the type of character we consider right for a signing Pochettino would make. He has the raw talent that needs to be developed further and improvement is what would make him one of the ideal candidates to take over from Hugo Lloris.
On technique and ability Pope has this in abundance, his shot-stopping ability was on clear show a couple of seasons ago. The area he would have to improve significantly is with the ball at his feet and being the focal point of starting attacks. For Burnley and the more direct style they play, it is hard to determine whether Pope would have such ability so this may be a consideration moving forward as to whether he could ideally fit into the Tottenham style of play.
Burnley almost certainly will have to move on Nick Pope or Joe Hart maybe both this summer and while Pope might not be one of the first names Tottenham and their fans might consider top replace Lloris he is certainly one worth considering.
