Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has endured a turbulent few weeks, with the 35-year-old shot-stopper being Spurs’ star player despite a 2-0 loss at Old Trafford in mid-October, before arguably being one of the club’s worst performers in both the Newcastle United defeat and 3-2 victory over AFC Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon.
Indeed, after making a colossal eight saves against Manchester United – returns that saw the Frenchman earn an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 8.3 – the ‘keeper subsequently made an error leading to a goal against the Magpies and was beaten twice against the newly-promoted Cherries – earning rather less impressive match ratings of 5.8 and 6.5 respectively.
As such, while the World Cup winner is clearly still a world-class goalkeeper on his day, considering his rather erratic performances of late, coupled with the fact the soon-to-be 36-year-old is getting towards to end of his career at the very top level of the game, it would appear wise for Fabio Paratici to start planning for life without Lloris in north London.
And, when taking into account just how impressive one of Tottenham’s reported candidates to replace the £100k-per-week goalkeeper, Illan Meslier, was against Liverpool on Sunday, it is not difficult to understand why the Leeds United shot-stopper is of interest to Spurs’ sporting director.
Indeed, over the course of Leeds’ widely unexpected 2-1 victory over the Reds, the £34.5m-rated starlet very much provided the platform for Jesse Marsch’s side to go on and snatch all three points at Anfield, with the France U21 international making a simply sensational nine saves – seven of which were from inside the box – three punches, four clearances and one tackle.
Not only did these returns see the 22-year-old earn an extraordinary SofaScore match rating of 9.0 – the best of any player to feature in the match – but his efforts also drew widespread praise, with Will Jackson dubbing the youngster “immense” and Alan Hardy stating his belief that “Meslier is right up there with Alisson and Ederson as the best in PL”.
As such, with Meslier more than proving to the country that he is indeed one of the best shot-stoppers currently playing in the top flight of English football, it would appear as if the “unreal” – in the words of Graham Smyth – starlet would be something of a dream heir for Lloris between the Spurs’ sticks.
However, with Phil Hay suggesting that Leeds will demand around £50m in order to part with the “sea eagle”, a move for the 22-year-old will not come cheap.