Harry Diamond
Tottenham are exploring ‘cheaper’ alternatives in their pursuit of a new goalkeeper this summer with Burnley set to demand more than £30m for Nick Pope.
Jose Mourinho’s side have been linked with a move for the England international as the club seek a long-term replacement for Hugo Lloris, the club captain having been linked with a return to France at the end of the current campaign.
Pope has emerged as the north London side’s number one target, though the Mail are reporting that alternatives are now being considered given Burnley’s valuation of more than £30m.
Recent reports have linked Spurs with both Manchester United’s Dean Henderson and West Bromwich Albion’s Sam Johnstone, both goalkeepers included alongside Pope in the England squad for this month’s international break.
According to the Mail, however, the club are also assessing options in the foreign market with both Lille goalkeeper Mike Maignan and Wolfsburg shot-stopper Koen Casteels under consideration.
Maignan has impressed for a Lille side who sit level on points with Paris Saint-Germain this season, keeping a divisional high of 16 clean sheets and conceding just 19 goals in 30 Ligue 1 fixtures.
The 25-year-old – who has won one senior cap for France – will have just a year remaining on his contract this summer and could be part of a fire-sale of talent at Lille given the club’s concerning financial situation.
Casteels has also emerged as a potential signing following a strong season with a Wolfsburg side competing for a return to the Champions League, the Belgium international producing a series of fine performances behind the Bundesliga’s second-best defence.
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