Spurs linked with German wonderkid amid goalkeeper reshuffle
Published:
The collapse of Tottenham’s season in the space of three days has been followed by the predictable wave of rumours linking their players with moves away from the club.
Polar opposite examples of the quality of such conjecture is evidenced in the club’s goalkeeping department, as Hugo Lloris is tied with a Manchester United switch and antique third-choice stopper Brad Friedel supposedly heads to Chelsea.
Whether such reports come from credible sources or are plucked from the thinnest of air doesn’t hide the fact that the Lilywhites need a contingency plan between the sticks, to prevent Michel Vorm being the only available man to mind their net.
A club run as meticulously as Spurs aren’t ever likely to let that happen though and reports that they are scouting FC Koln gloveman Timo Horn is far from surprising.
The 21-year-old is a burgeoning prospect in the Bundesliga, where he has made 23 appearances this season and conceded just 29 goals.
Despite his relatively young age, Horn is just five games away from clocking up 100 appearances for the Billy Goats. The majority of those came in Germany’s second tier before promotion this term.
Nonetheless, nine clean sheets in a debut campaign against the likes of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund is an indication of the potential the Cologne native possesses.
After crashing out of the Europa League in Florence, then losing the Capital One Cup final to Chelsea, Spurs only have the top-four race to focus on for the remainder of the campaign; which they are 15/2 to win according to Ladbrokes.
A failure to secure a Champions League berth could see the end of Lloris’ White Hart Lane career. The French captain has yet to feature in the competition as a Lilywhite, but was a regular participant during his Lyon days.
Chelsea’s pursuit of Friedel is particularly curious. Having let one creaky goalkeeper leave in January when Mark Schwarzer moved to Leicester, signing another one seems to be stunting the Blues’ shot-stopping future.
However, if Spurs manage to land a highly-rated young replacement on the back of it they won’t complain.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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