Planning for life after Lloris: Spurs shortlist Pope
Reading Time: 3min | Wed. 24.02.21. | 10:52
Apart from trying to overcome their rough patch in the Premier League and remaining on course to the Europa League final stages, Spurs need to take time and consider their options should their captain decide to return to France
Tottenham Hotspur captain Hugo Lloris’ contract is set to expire at the end of next season and he may opt against signing another one. The 2018 World Cup winner may be tempted to a reunion with his former manager Mauricio Pochettino at Paris Saint-Germain. Returning to France might prove too tempting for the 34-year-old custodian. Tottenham are believed to have already decided on Lloris’ successor: Burnley’s England ‘keeper Nick Pope.
The 28-year-old Pope joined Burnley from Charlton in 2016, has developed into one of the Premier League’s best-performing and most consistent goalkeepers. He earned four England caps along the way, which raised his profile considerably. His Burnley deal expires in 2023 though also includes an option for an additional year. Sean Dyche’s dependable goalkeeper is currently valued at around $40 million could be lured by the prospect of playing in the European cups with Spurs.
Lloris played for his hometown club OGC Nice before joining Olympic Lyonnais in 2008. He excelled during his four seasons at Stade Gerland and attracted interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs. He almost completed a transfer to AC Milan in July 2012, but has decided against it last-minute and moved to London to become Spurs’ Number One. He is currently into his ninth season with the Lillywhites – but is uncertain if there will be a tenth.
Reunion in Paris? Mauricio Pochettino and Hugo Lloris (©Reuters)The North London team beat Austrian side Wolfsberg in the first leg 4-1 last week and are looking certain to make it to the next round after tonight’s return match. Heung-Min Son, Gareth Bale, Lucas Moura and, late on, substitute Carlos VinÃcius all scored at Ferenc Puskas Arena, while Michael Liendl's fifth goal of the competition, his fourth from the penalty spot, provided scant consolation.
The Austrian club is participating in only their third European campaign. The fact that they made it past the group stage has already made their season a success, so they will run out at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium pitch with nothing to lose. They are one of five clubs making their first appearance in the Europa League knockout phase this season, along with Antwerp, Granada, Hoffenheim and Leicester City.
Spurs are one of six former UEFA Cup winners in this season's round of 32 – along with Ajax, Bayer Leverkusen, Napoli, PSV Eindhoven and Shakhtar Donetsk. Manchester United (2016/17) are the only club in the field to have won the UEFA Europa League.
Europa League
Round of 32 - second leg
Wednesday
20.00: Tottenham - Wolfsberger (First leg result: 4-1)
Thursday
20.55: Hoffenheim - Molde (3-3)
20.55: Ajax - LOSC Lille (2-1)
20.55: Shakhtar Donetsk - Maccabi Tel-Aviv (2-0)
20.55: Napoli - Granada (0-2)
20.55: Villareal - Salzburg (2-0)
20.55: Rangers - Antwerp (4-3)
20.55: Arsenal - Benfica (1-1)
23.00: PSV - Olympiacos (2-4)
23.00: Leverkusen - Young Boys (3-4)
23.00: Dinamo Zagreb - Krasnodar (3-2)
23.00: Roma - Braga (2-0)
23.00: Leicester - Slavia Praha (0-0)
23.00: Milan - Crvena zvezda (2-2)
23.00: Manchester United - Real Sociedad (4-0)
23.00: Club Brugge - Dynamo Kyiv (1-1)
