Former Serie A goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano believes it would make little ‘sense’ for Lazio to sign Hugo Lloris from Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur this month.
Speaking to Calciomercato, Viviano admits to holding talks with Bianconeri boss Maurizio Sarri about a potential move to the Stadio Olimpico earlier in the summer.
Once of Arsenal, the now-37-year-old glovesman would have acted as an experienced back-up behind Serie A’s reigning Goalkeeper of the Year, Ivan Provedel.
With Viviano opting to join Ascoli instead, this is now a role Hugo Lloris could now fill. But while the latter is only one year younger than the former, Viviano has his doubts about whether Tottenham’s long-serving number one would be willing to accept a supporting role in Lazio colours.
Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in Lazio talks
“Sarri called me before retiring. Now, I read about Lloris. That surprises me a lot,” Viviano argues. “For me, it doesn’t make sense (to sign the World Cup winner) as competition for Provedel.
“For Lloris to play as the second choice would surprise me. A World champion behind you puts a lot of pressure on Provedel.
“If they are good at managing (the situation), maybe Lazio would then find themselves with two great goalkeepers.
“What did Sarri tell me? He had his doubts. He knows I’m someone who has always played in the starting line-up. For the position of second goalkeeper, someone is needed.”
Former Chelsea, Juventus and Napoli coach Sarri, it seems, has reservations about bringing in Lloris too. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the Italian tactician believes that signing a goalkeeper as experienced and as high-profile as Lloris – while offering him greater wages than those afforded to Provedel – could lead to a rivalry behind the scenes. And not a rivalry of the ‘healthy’ variety.
Lloris has one year left on his contract at Spurs but will be allowed to leave after Guglielmo Vicario arrived from Empoli. The 36-year-old was not in Ange Postecoglou’s squad for last week’s Brentford draw.
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