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Report: Tottenham wanted to sign Samir Handanovic this summer

Mauricio Pochettino, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur reacts during the Premier League match between Everton and Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park on ...
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Tottenham Hotspur allegedly wanted to bring the experienced stopper to North London.

Samir Handanovic #1 of FC Interernazionale actions during the International Champions Cup match between FC Bayern Munich and FC Internazionale at National Stadium on July 27, 2017 in...

According to an exclusive report from FCInternews, Tottenham Hotspur were interested in signing Inter Milan goalkeeper Samir Handanovic this summer, only for the Serie A side to ignore interest from both Spurs and Premier League rivals Liverpool.

Tottenham did still sign a new ‘keeper in the form of Paulo Gazzaniga, but this season he will very much be third choice between Hugo Lloris and Michel Vorm.

Samir Handanovich of FC Internazionale reacts during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina v FC Internazionale at Stadio Artemio Franchi on April 22, 2017 in Florence, Italy.

Further down the line, Vorm is expected to leave in pursuit of regular first-team football, especially with his contract expiring at the end of this season, and only time will tell how long Lloris remains at the club.

The French international has a contract at Tottenham until the summer of 2022 so there is no short-term fear that Spurs will lose the player unless it is their decision. However the reported pursuit of Handanovic shows just how much manager Mauricio Pochettino wanted to add to his goalkeeping ranks in the recent transfer window.

A late flurry of activity saw Gazzaniga join Fernando Llorente, Davinson Sanchez and Juan Foyth at Tottenham, but Handanovic would have been an interesting alternative to the Argentine stopper.

Mauricio Pochettino, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur reacts during the Premier League match between Everton and Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park on September 9, 2017 in Liverpool, England.

The Inter player has featured 208 times for his current club and is a regular starter for a side looking to kick on this season.

It would have taken some impressive negotiating to bring the 81-capped Slovenian international to Tottenham this summer, but his contract situation made a move possible.

Now Inter are said to be planning a new deal should English clubs come sniffing again in January or beyond.