Sport
Jordan Pickford would be a good replacement for Hugo Lloris
Hugo Lloris’ blunder against Aston Villa on New Year’s Day certainly wasn’t the first he has made as Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper in recent times. While the Frenchman has been an excellent servant over the last decade for the North London club, mistakes have crept into his game at an alarming rate.
Indeed, there is a growing acceptance among Tottenham fans that their club will have to target a new first-choice goalkeeper sooner rather than later. World-class goalkeepers are difficult to find, and Spurs have been fortunate to have had one like Lloris for such a long time, but they might have no choice but to enter the market for another number one.
Jordan Pickford has been mentioned as one possible replacement for Lloris with the Everton and England goalkeeper now into the final 18 months of his contract at Goodison Park. David Raya is also believed to be on Tottenham’s radar, but Pickford’s signing would provide the greatest statement of intent.
It’s fair to say Pickford has had his critics over the years. Like Lloris, he has made a number of mistakes, most frequently for Everton, but the 28-year-old is reaching maturity. With Everton facing a fight against relegation from the Premier League this season, he has grown into a leader and his performances have never been better.
England has always brought the best out of Pickford and he was in top form for the Three Lions in reaching the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup. Some argued Nick Pope and Aaron Ramsdale should have been ahead of Pickford in the goalkeeping pecking order, but Pickford more than vindicated Gareth Southgate’s faith in him.
As a modern goalkeeper, Pickford fits the bill for any team looking to play out from the back. The 28-year-old might not be on Ederson’s level in terms of his distribution, but he is strong enough with the ball at his feet to take possession when required to. This is surely something that appeals to Tottenham Hotspur.
At this stage of his career, it would be understandable if Pickford desired a move away from Everton. He has been at Goodison Park for the last five years and has achieved very little in that time. Despite being England number one, Pickford has yet to play in the Champions League – something that Spurs could offer him.
“I feel we can (match his ambitions),” Lampard recently insisted when asked about the likelihood of signing Pickford to a new contract with his current deal entering its final 18 months. “I like to think he’s very happy here. We’re a huge club with a huge history and big ambition and he’s a big part of that.”
Despite Lampard’s comments, there’s little in Everton’s form this season to suggest they can match Pickford’s individual ambition with the Toffees fighting to stay in the Premier League. What’s more, Everton’s financial position is so delicate they might not be in a position to reject any offer from Spurs for a player who will be permitted to leave the club as a free agent next year.
Tottenham might have some competition for Pickford’s signature with Manchester United reportedly considering replacing David de Gea. Pickford’s suitability for Erik ten Hag’s system is clear, leading to the suggestion there could be a bidding war for the England number one at the end of the season.
If, however, Spurs’ sales pitch to Pickford is the strongest, they should be at the front of the queue to sign the 28-year-old. He would be an upgrade on Lloris and would signify the start of a new era for the North London club. There are only so many more Lloris blunders that Tottenham can absorb.
