Leaving Peru for the Premier League would be like ‘going from primary school’ to secondary education, Sporting Cristal director Roberto Mosquera tells El Bocon of the reported Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
Like going from your ten times table to A-level algebra. Like going from ‘Mog the Forgetful Cat’ to ‘Of Mice and Men’.
Lora, at 21 and with a grand total of 40 senior league appearances under his belt, certainly has a lot to learn. His footballing education is only just beginning.
But with Planet Sport claiming that Mikel Arteta’s and Antonio Conte’s Spurs are among the clubs eyeing a player dubbed ‘the new Nolberto Solano’ – a reference to his ability rather than his position on a football pitch – Lora appears to be in line for a Premier League scholarship.
West Ham United, Everton, Brentford, Brighton and Crystal Palace are keen too, following Jora’s performances in last summer’s Copa America. A tournament in which Peru finished an impressive fourth place.
Is Jhilmar Lora ready for the Premier League?
“It’s like going from primary to Catholic (secondary school),” quips Mosquera when asked about the prospect of Lora leaving Peru for England.
“It is the decision of the anyone who wants to sign him. Anything can appear in the newspapers, on social networks.”
Peruvian journalist Daniel Montalvan did some digging and backed up Planet Sport’s claims last week. Reports suggesting that Tottenham and Arsenal are keen on the highly-rated full-back, Montalvan says, are ‘true’.
Interestingly, the North London giants have both been linked with a number of right-sided defenders in recent weeks. Nottingham Forest loanee Djed Spence is a target for both, while another Championship starlet – Middlesbrough whizzkid Isaiah Jones – is also attracting attention.
Such claims only add credence to claims that Cedric Soares will leave Arsenal in the summer.
It also raises some rather awkward questions about the futures of Emerson Royal and Matt Doherty down the road at Spurs.
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