CBS Sports reporter Ben Jacobs has told Chris Cowling’s Tottenham YouTube channel that Spurs are interested in signing Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper and Croatia World Cup hero Dominik Livakovic – but Chelsea are keen, too.
There are always breakout talents from a World Cup and the tournament in Qatar was no exception. Many Morocco players could fit that bill, as could Croatia goalkeeper Livakovic. The Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper was in stunning form.
He was Ante Budimir’s no.1 choice between the sticks and he did not disappoint. Two clean sheets against Belgium and Morocco in the groups was followed by penalty-shootout displays against Japan and Brazil – saving four penalties.
Eventually, Croatia were blown away by Argentina in the semi-finals and Livakovic did not stand a chance. But what the World Cup has done for the goalkeeper, is throw him on the radar of European clubs. Bayern Munich are interested.
His club form id decent, too. He has 122 clean sheets in 262 games, winning five league titles. Made in Foot say Leeds are also keen, with £9million enough. Jacobs says Spurs scouted Livakovic in Qatar – as did Chelsea and Ajax.
“The final name that I would mention that Tottenham scouted during the World Cup, along with a few other clubs – one of them was Chelsea, one of them was Ajax – is the Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic,” Jacobs said.
Jacobs: Tottenham interested in World Cup hero Livakovic
What a signing Livakovic would be. Tottenham are renowned for trying to keep the spending to a minimum. In the summer, they did the opposite. But they need to bring in a new goalkeeper, with Hugo Lloris now 36 years of age.
Fraser Forster is firmly planted as back-up to Lloris. But they need a younger goalkeeper to take over the reigns in North London as the club’s no.1 stopper – and Livakovic would be ideal. For just £9million, an absolute bargain.
Of course, he already has a friend within Tottenham’s ranks in the form of Ivan Perisic – and Luka Modric will know him well, too. Whether Spurs can convince him that a move to North London is his best move remains to be seen.
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