‘Phenomenon’: 27-year-old floored by £12m Spurs player who kept him on the bench

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Fraser Forster could be one of Tottenham Hotspur’s best summer signings in terms of value.

The 6’7 goalkeeper has joined Spurs as a replacement for Pierluigi Gollini, who has returned to Atalanta following a disappointing season-long loan in North London.

Tottenham boss Antonio Conte is reported to have never been convinced by the Italian goalkeeper since replacing Nuno Espirito Santo in early November of last year.

In terms of back-up options for Hugo Lloris, Forster, who joined for free after a spell with Southampton, is a cracking addition and one with 134 Premier League appearances under his belt.

Dislodging Lloris – a £12 million signing in 2012 – as number one won’t be easy, though – just ask Gollini himself.

Reflecting on his disappointing Tottenham career, the 27-year-old described Lloris as a ‘phenomenon’ and believes that playing ahead of him was always going to be a massive challenge.

He said via TMW: “I played with some of the best players in the world. In front of me I had Lloris, one of the best goalkeepers around, and for me it was a formative year. I also saved a penalty against Wolverhampton in the Carabao Cup.”

Forster is absolutely a level above Gollini and could, in theory, push the France international a lot closer for his gloves under Conte next season.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta labelled the former Celtic keeper as ‘exceptional‘ as recently as April, following a stunning performance at home to the Gunners toward the end of the campaign.

This is someone who can absolutely be the difference between one point and three for Tottenham.

And Lloris will know he’ll have to up his game considerably more than when Gollini was at Hotspur Way.