The Espanyol stopper has joined Spurs on a season-long loan.
Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Terry Gibson has told the club’s official website that in Pau Lopez, Spurs have secured the services of a top-class goalkeeper in the making.
Spurs dipped into the transfer market on deadline day to bring Lopez to White Hart Lane on a season-long loan deal.
With Mauricio Pochettino’s side having to juggle their Premier League aspirations with a Champions League group-stage campaign this term, the Argentine boss knew that competition and cover in all positions is vital.
He therefore returned to his first club as a manager, Espanyol, to snap up a player who had been a highly-rated prospect during his time in Barcelona but who has now become a fully-fledged first-team star.
Lopez will provide competition for number one Hugo Lloris and deputy Michel Vorm, and Gibson believes that Pochettino has brought a future star to the Lane, albeit on a temporary basis, with the signing of the 21-year-old.
The 53-year-old told the Spurs official website: “In recent seasons, Spain has been renowned for producing really good, talented young goalkeepers and Pau is on that list. He’s got every chance of growing up to be a really top-class player. He’s certainly one for the future.
“I think he has the potential to be a really good goalkeeper for years to come and at one stage last season he didn’t appear to be too far away from being in the Spanish national set-up due to his good form – in fact he made the squad just before the Euros.
“He’s a good all-round keeper. He’s a great shot-stopper, he’s good at dealing with crosses, he’s agile and all those attributes will only improve over time. I think he represents a really good loan signing by Spurs.”
Lopez enjoyed his first season as senior first-choice ‘keeper for his boyhood club last term following the departure of Kiko Casilla to Real Madrid, and he has impressed so far in the role.
It is unclear just what the size of his role at Spurs will be this term, but Pochettino presumably plans to use the Spaniard on at least an occasional basis.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
