Tottenham reportedly want Espanyol goalkeeper Pau Lopez.
Espanyol goalkeeper Pau Lopez
According to Spanish newspaper Sport, Espanyol want €5m (£4.25m) and Tottenham’s Federico Fazio on loan in exchange for goalkeeper Pau Lopez.
Lopez, 21, has come up through the ranks at Espanyol, and played 36 times in La Liga last season as one of Spanish football’s most promising young goalkeepers.
However, backed by wealthy new owner Chen Yansheng, Espanyol have swooped to land goalkeeper Roberto from Olympiacos, meaning Lopez is set to be relegated to second choice under new manager Quique Sanchez Flores.
Lopez may yet be offered a route out of Spain, as Sport claim that Tottenham Hotspur are keen to lure the goalkeeper to the Premier League.
The report states that manager Mauricio Pochettino is keen to land a young goalkeeper he can develop behind Hugo Lloris, and Lopez fits the bill perfectly.
Lopez was coming up through the ranks at Espanyol during Pochettino’s time at the club, and the Argentinian even had the goalkeeper train with the first team when Lopez was just 17.
Now, Pochettino is seemingly targeting a reunion with Lopez – and Espanyol have told Spurs what they want, according to Sport.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Federico Fazio
The report claims that Espanyol want a part-exchange deal: €5m (£4.25m) cash, plus Tottenham defender Federico Fazio on loan with an option to buy.
Fazio is frozen out under Pochettino and appears to be available, but whether Tottenham are willing to part with cash on top of the giant centre back remains to be seen. Pochettino’s desire to reunite with Lopez could tempt Spurs into accepting the terms, though added complications could arise given that Fazio would then have to agree a deal with Espanyol to facilitate Lopez’s move.
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