Tottenham to make improved £13.5m bid for Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris
The France captain is interested in a move to White Hart Lane and
negotiations are ongoing after an initial £12m offer for the 25-year-old
was rebuffed by his current club
EXCLUSIVE
By Greg Stobart
Tottenham are preparing to make an improved £13.5 million offer for Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris as Andre Villas-Boas looks to make the France captain his long-term No.1.
Spurs had a £12m offer rejected by the French
club last week but are continuing negotiations, with the 25-year-old
believed to be keen on a switch to White Hart Lane.
Lyon value
Lloris at €20m (£15.8m) and are ready to sell the former Nice man to
raise funds and ease their wage bill after missing out on a place in the
Champions League for the coming season.
Tottenham chairman
Daniel Levy is unlikely to offer the full asking price but the Londoners
are hopeful that a compromise can be reached as they plan for the new
season.
New Spurs manager Villas-Boas has made Lloris
his top choice as he targets a young goalkeeper to replace 41-year-old
Brad Friedel, who is preparing for his final season as a professional.
Heurelho Gomes, who fell out with former boss Harry Redknapp, is still
likely to be sold despite the managerial change.
Lloris, who has
also been linked with Arsenal and is under contract until 2015, would
command wages of around £80,000, which is within Spurs' budget as they
streamline the squad by selling fringe players. Tottenham have already
signed midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson and defender Jan Vertonghen this
summer and are eager to complete their transfer business early, with a
move for Emmanuel Adebayor also close to completion.
Jean-Michel Aulas, the Lyon president, revealed earlier this month that Lloris could leave the Stade Gerland this summer.
"Lloris
told me that he would like to leave if he has an opportunity to play
for one of the five biggest European sides," Aulas told his club's
official website last week.
"If any of these teams make an offer meeting his market value, €20m, he will be allowed to leave.
"For now, though, I have not received any offers, neither from Arsenal nor from elsewhere."
Source : Goal.com
