'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAb/2gAIAQEAAAAANOf/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAE/9oACAECEAAAAEf/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAE/9oACAEDEAAAADf/xAAjEAABAwMCBwAAAAAAAAAAAAACAQMEAAUhERITIiQxQWHS/9oACAEBAAE/AJ8YLZaOFzuA3KNJAGQmLnoUUdBymFo5zW8ukPv5kr81/8QAGREAAgMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgMAASFR/9oACAECAQE/AFKCzLOT/8QAGxEAAgEFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQMAAgQSMcL/2gAIAQMBAT8AuXspSog7y5n/2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Hugo Lloris is one of the best active goal keepers in football, but the Frenchman probably doesn’t get the accolades he deserves because he plays for a club with a smaller fan base in comparison to the fan base of clubs for which many of the other top keepers like Manuel Neuer, David De Gea or Thibaut Courtois play.At the age of 28 all Lloris has to show in his trophy cabinet are the Coupe de France and Trophee des champions he won with Lyon in 2012, while much younger keepers like De Gea and Courtous have won the league with their clubs. The French National team captain has been at Spurs for three years now and has not played Champions League football with them and by the looks of things; it is unlikely that Spurs will play Champions League next season as well.Lloris has been one of the outstanding performers for the North London club this season and probably only second best to Harry Kane. Even though the number of cleansheets kept by Spurs doesn’t do justice to Lloris’ incredible work between the sticks, without the kind of shift Lloris has put in this season, Spurs would have found themselves in deep water. In fact this table gives a rough idea of the work Lloris has to do, when compared to some other top keepers.Goalkeeping statistics for the 2014/15 seasonStatistics/ PlayerLlorisCasillasDe GeaCourtoisNeuerSaves per game2.562.432.091.931.55Punches per game0.690.370.170.330.10Catches per game2.252.572.033.231.93Errors leading to goal11121The former Lyon man is now constantly linked with a move away from Spurs and probably to a club which can offer him Champions League football. Here are the top 5 likely destinations for Hugo Lloris next season.
#1 Real Madrid
Although Real Madrid acquired the services of Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas in the summer of 2014, Carols Ancelotti has preferred to use Iker Casillas in goal for majority of the games. What amuses many people is that Casillas is clearly no longer the same quality player he once was, while Navas was one of the best keepers in the league last season and yet the Real Madrid captain continues to get the nod ahead of the Costa Rican. This tells us that Ancelotti trust Casillas more than Navas.
Next season, Ancelotti may have to take a stand and replace Casillas, because his goal keeping has been letting Real Madrid down on some occasions and his poor keeping against Barcelona in the recent crucial El Clasico is a perfect example of what I am saying.
Although Real are linked with a move for De Gea, the Spaniard may cost a significant fee as he is very young and on the top of the game, but if Real want to look at a more experienced, equally good and cheaper option, then Hugo Lloris is their safest bet.
Lloris could be tempted to move to Madrid quite easily and he has some of his teammates from France like Benzema and Varane at the club already.
#2 Manchester United
David de Gea is Manchester United’s most valuable asset and one of the best players in the Premier League this season. The Spaniard’s incredible performances in the earlier half of the season is one of the reasons why Manchester United find themselves in the Top 4 currently.
The issue for Manchester United is that good performances from players often attract a lot of attention from other top clubs and David de Gea has attracted the attention of a club than can afford to buy him and that’s Real Madrid. If Real step up their interest to buy the Spaniard as a possible long term replacement for Iker Casillas, then Manchester United will need someone equally good to replace him.
Manchester United is always an attractive prospect for many players and the added incentive of Champions league football can temp Lloris to move. Newspapers are already linking Lloris with a move to United and the recent report suggests a swap deal involving Lloris and Victor Valdes, with United paying some cash as well to secure the services of the French captain.
#3 Paris Saint-Germain
Paris Saint Germain have splashed the cash heavily to make their team an attractive prospect, but what the Ligue 1 champions are currently missing is the presence of quality French National team players in their side. If you look at the preferred starting 11 used by Laurent Blanc this season there is just one Frenchman in it and that is Blaise Matuidi, while there are four Brazilians and three Italians in it.
Salvatore Sirigu is the current goal keeper for PSG and he is a very good keeper, but if the Paris side can get their hands on the captain of the French National football team, then it can appeal to their French fan base even more and Lloris is a player any manager can trust to start week in week out.
The issue here is that PSG will have to let Sirigu go, but one can expect suitors for the Italian and the other issue is for Llors as he was a former Lyon player and a move to Lyons direct rivals could upset the fans of his former club.
If these issues can be resolved then a return to his country to play for a club that can surely finish in the Champions League positions and win the league title will be more than appealing enough for Lloris.
#4 AS Roma
A move to Serie A may sound unrealistic for Lloris, but it is not impossible. AS Roma are very close to finishing in a Champions League spot this season and that alone could be enough to get Lloris to move to Italy.
Roma have shown that they are ready to spend heavily if it’s necessary by signing players like Seydou Doumbia and Juan Iturbe, so there is no need to raise the question of Roma’s ability to match Spurs’ asking price.
The side from the Italian capital have been heavily reliant on 38-year-old veteran keeper, Morgan De Sanctis, this season, but the former Napoli man has had a very erratic season and has shown clear signs of ageing. In this scenario, Roma should be looking for a top keeper as early as they can before more mistakes from their veteran keepers or their inexperienced backups cost them matches or even trophies.
#5 Arsenal
A Tottneham Hotspur player moving across town to play for their most bitter rivals sounds absurd at first, but don’t discard the possibility. In the past players have crossed the barrier to play for the biggest rivals and considering how well established and strong Arsenal are currently, the move could happen.
The Gunners are currently playing with David Ospina as their first choice keeper and without any doubt Lloris is an upgrade over the Colombian and signing a player of Lloris’ quality will signal Arsenal’s intent to challenge for the title next season.
To add fuel to the fire, Arsenal’s striker Olivier Giroud had earlier claimed that Lloris would like to join Arsenal and if there is any truth in what Giroud says then we could see a very interesting transfer unfold.
The presence of known faces like Giroud and Koscielny at Arsenal may make it easier for Lloris to do what very few people have dared to do.
