Tottenham Hotspur director of football Fabio Paratici has identified Aston Villa shot-stopper Emiliano Martinez as his ideal replacement for Hugo Lloris, according to reports.
The London club have been searching for a new goalkeeper for a while, with Lloris struggling for fitness and form this term, now, according to these developments, they could submit an offer for the Villa star in the next few weeks.
It’s thought that Unai Emery will likely entertain any sizeable offers, as it is believed that he ‘cannot stand’ Martinez after the pair fell out during their time together at Arsenal.
This is good news for Tottenham fans, as the Argentine international has proved in the past that he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world on his day.
Indeed, since joining the Villains in 2020, Martinez has made 99 appearances across all competitions, helping his side to 33 clean sheets in total.
He also gained worldwide attention after playing a vital role in Argentina’s World Cup win in Qatar, saving two penalties in a shoot-out in the final against France and generally making excellent saves throughout the tournament.
According to a report by TyC Sports, Paratici is strongly considering launching an approach for Martinez imminently after narrowing down his options for Lloris’ replacement.
Lloris has been a loyal servant to Spurs, accumulating almost 450 appearances since signing for the London club in 2012.
However, with the Frenchman nearly in the final year of his contract, Tottenham are currently weighing up the best candidates to replace him.
A host of names have been linked with the potential vacancy, including Brentford shot-stopper David Raya, who claims to have turned down two new contract offers from the Bees amid interest from multiple top clubs.
Everton and England keeper Jordan Pickford is another potential option, while Brighton’s Robert Sanchez and Inter Milan’s Andre Onana have also been mentioned recently.
However, as per the report, Martinez is Paratici’s currently preferred option, with an official approach believed to be ‘imminent.’
The Argentine’s contract at Villa Park is set to expire in 2027, so the Midlands club are under no immediate pressure to sell.
With that in mind, according to Transfermarkt, Tottenham may have to table an offer of approximately £28m to have a chance of getting a deal over the line this summer.
Ironically, the 30-year-old’s potential arrival could lead to Spurs ditching one World Cup winner for another, following Lloris’ triumph as France captain in 2018.
Martinez also spent a decade with Tottenham’s bitter rivals, Arsenal, without being given an extended run in the side by any manager, including Emery.
In that sense, joining Spurs would be a great opportunity for the Argentine to get revenge on the Gunners, who sold him to Aston Villa two-and-a-half years ago after he had made just 38 appearances in two years.
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