Tottenham Hotspur are considering a move for Lazio shot-stopper Thomas Strakosha as a long-term replacement for Hugo Lloris.
The Frenchman lifted the World Cup with France, but hasn’t been at his consistent best for Tottenham this season, and at 32, he might not have too many good years left even though ‘keepers tend to get better with age.
Strakosha has managed to establish himself in the Lazio first team despite being just 23, and according to Calciomercato, the Albanian is on Tottenham’s shortlist of potential replacements for Lloris.
Strakosha – fact file
The Albanian has already made 110 appearances for Lazio since joining the club in 2012 and his development has been impressive.
Still only 23, Strakosha has shown that he isn’t just a quality shot-stopper, but is a good distributor of the ball as well, something that he focussed on a lot these days.
So far this season, Strakosha has made 25 appearances in the Serie A and has managed eight clean sheets in the process.
Would Strakosha be a wise replacement for Lloris?
Unlike outfield players, it’s easier to judge if a goalkeeper will eventually become a success if signed.
Usually ‘keepers need to do a bit more in the Premier League considering certain teams like to play direct and rely on set-pieces.
Even David De Gea had his difficulties dealing with set-pieces early on, and Strakosha might have a few nervy moments, but the Albanian does have good ability in goal and can be a long-term replacement for Lloris.
Strakosha’s shot-stopping ability earned him quite a few plaudits last season, but it wasn’t enough to help Lazio finish in the top four of the Serie A.
At 23, the custodian still has his peak years ahead of him, and if Tottenham can get him for a decent fee, he might eventually become a bargain signing.
The work goalkeepers put in has been recognised even more in the last year or so, which is why the duo of Alisson Becker and Kepa Arrizabalaga cost quite a bit.
Strakosha’s contract with Lazio runs until 2022, and if the side are able to make it to the top four in the Serie A this season, his transfer value might go up. How much should Spurs pay for him? If they can get him for a fee inside £25 million, that would be a shrewd move.