Is this Spurs star perfect for Man United? (Not Kane)
Will he go? Will he stay? David de Gea’s future is about as clear as mud right now, with the Spaniard’s situation altering on a daily basis. The latest suggestions are that Real Madrid are willing to wait it out and sign him for free next summer, but this could just be a scare tactic to force Manchester United into doing a late deal.
Typically, Real get their own way in the transfer market, so there’s every chance that De Gea will be plying is trade at the Bernabeu in just under a month’s time, so Louis van Gaal’s Red Devils need a contingency plan… and they appear to have one in the shape of Spurs’ Hugo Lloris.
Interestingly, United face Tottenham this weekend in the opening game of the Premier League season – albeit Lloris may be on the bench due to fitness concerns – which adds another interesting narrative to an already enthralling clash.
Is Lloris the perfect replacement? We at FFC Towers think so, and here are FIVE reasons why…
Prem experience
Manchester United cannot afford a sluggish opening few months to the campaign. A start akin to that of last term could see the title race fade away, with sides such as Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal all looking strong. Although goalkeepers are not the most vital of cogs, their importance is still significant, and in Lloris, United could land a replacement ready to slot straight into the action.
With three years of Premier League experience, the Frenchman is well-versed in the style of the English game, thus reducing the threat of the ‘adjustment period’. As United know all too well from De Gea’s first season, it can take time for foreign imports to transfer their form.
Proven quality
Building from the last point, Lloris is a proven stopper at the very highest level. Although Spurs have not finished in the top four during his spell at White Hart Lane, the classy stopper has been among the best goalies in English football, with his reflexes, reading of the game and all-round ability between the sticks impressive to say the least.
On top of this, Lloris is the captain of the French national side, illustrating his quality and skills as a leader.
Eager to move
Lloris has talked up his desire to play in the Champions League in the past, and with Spurs’ summer having been quiet on the transfer front, the Londoners look further away from doing so than they have entering campaigns over the course of the past few years. Although there are no suggestions that he desperate to move on, surely the chance to perform in top-level European competition could sway him before the window closes, and United appear on course to be able to offer him just that… so long as the can make it through a potentially tricky qualification play-off tie with Club Brugge.
‘Sweeper keeper’
The modern game demands more from goalkeepers. Gone are the days of a goalie of questionable athletic prowess, with stoppers now called upon to help with building attacks from the back and cutting off opposition threats early.
Manuel Neuer is the high-profile example of the ‘sweeper keeper’ phenomenon, but Lloris is not dissimilar in his approach to the game. Such an approach comes with inherent risks, but the Frenchman’s speed across the turf and impressive technical skills make him a useful component in a more progressive system.
Spurs are a selling club…
Spurs fans may not be happy to hear this, but the Londoners are a selling club. Dimitar Berbatov, Luka Modric and Gareth Bale are three prime examples of the willingness to offload key players for profit, so the right offer for Lloris will surely be entertained by chairman Daniel Levy.
With United possessing spending power on a par with any club side on the planet, there’s every chance Van Gaal could pay whatever is needed for Lloris – especially if a sizable sum is received for De Gea.