Tottenham Hotspur want to sign Lazio goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha, but might have to break the bank for the custodian.
Lazio club president and owner, Claudio Lotito, has slapped a €50 million price tag on the Albanian International, as per Il Messaggero cited by the Laziali.
Tottenham will have to compete with north London rivals Arsenal for the 24-year old, but it seems like a fee of €50 million might force the Lilywhites to look elsewhere.
Let’s look at three cheaper alternatives Tottenham should target:
Nick Pope
The Burnley goalkeeper first burst on to the scene in 2017/18 season, but a shoulder injury saw him manage just 194 minutes of playing time in 3 appearances all season.
Although Pope’s ability with his feet remains a doubt, his prowess between the sticks and the instinctive reaction saves remain his strengths.
He is also pretty quick off the line, which highlights his anticipation and strong awareness on the pitch.
The 27-year-old has a lot of time left ahead of him, and would be a more than decent back-up for Hugo Lloris or eventually replace him.
Jack Butland
Butland was relegated to the second tier of English football with Stoke City at the end of the 2017-18 season through no fault of his own.
The fact that Liverpool wanted to pay the world record fee to sign the 26-year-old shows how good a ‘keeper he is.
The Potters number one made 45 appearances last term, impressing with his excellent displays and looks Premier League-bound ahead of the next season.
Butland could be a good addition to the Lilywhites, seeing he is only 26 years of age, and will improve with time. A strong candidate to be a long-term replacement for Lloris.
Jasper Cillessen
Cillessen has clarified his stance to leave Camp Nou in search for more playing time. Barcelona have slashed their asking price for the Dutch International to facilitate his move this summer.
The 30-year-old excels at almost everything required for a modern-day goalkeeper. His good distribution skills, calmness with the ball at his feet, quick reflexes and an excellent shot-stopping ability makes him a top prospect for any club interested.
The Blaugrana ‘keeper’s experience at the top level is also a plus, as he a regular for his country Netherlands.
The Dutch number one is still at the prime of his career, and would be a top player to maybe dethrone Lloris or push him next season.