Brighton and Hove Albion goalkeeper Mat Ryan is starring this season.
Much has been made of Hugo Lloris in recent times, as it’s fair to say that the Frenchman hasn’t quite hit top form in 2018 – even having won the World Cup this past summer.
Lloris, 31, has made a number of high-profile errors over the course of the year, from handing Croatia a bizarre goal in the World Cup final to rash decisions in each of Tottenham’s last two Champions League games.
Lloris was sent off against PSV Eindhoven in midweek, eventually costing Spurs all three points, and many now believe that it’s time for Spurs to target a new goalkeeper to succeed Lloris down the line.
Burnley’s Nick Pope has already been linked, but one player who should be back on the Spurs radar is Brighton and Hove Albion goalkeeper Mat Ryan, who is one of the most underrated goalkeepers in the top flight.
Ryan, 26, has starred in the Brighton goal since his 2017 move from Valencia, and has made 43 saves in just 10 Premier League games, with just two goalkeepers having saved more; Lukasz Fabianski and Joe Hart are on 44.
Ryan may not be the tallest of goalkeepers, but he is confident, agile and possesses superb distribution, making him potentially ideal to take over from Lloris and fit into Mauricio Pochettino’s style of play.
The Australian international is becoming one of the finest shot-stoppers in the Premier League, and with Michel Vorm out of contract at the end of the season, Ryan would be ideal for Spurs to bring in as immediate competition for Lloris and potentially a first-choice stopper.
A move for Ryan would also be somewhat ironic given that he recounted earlier this season how he was on trial with Spurs in 2012 under Andre Villas-Boas but wasn’t offered a deal. Now, six years on, Ryan has flourished – and Spurs should feel that he is ready to make the move to North London in 2019.
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