Emiliano Martinez in action for Aston Villa
Tottenham Hotspur hold concrete interest in signing Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, according to a report.
The Lowdown: Tottenham targeting goalkeeper
It has now become clear that Antonio Conte wants a replacement for Hugo Lloris this summer, and a plethora of potential signings have been linked with a move to north London.
Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili has been tracked by Tottenham, and Football London report that Robert Sanchez, Dean Henderson and Jan Oblak are viewed as replacements for the Frenchman.
The Latest: Martinez eyed
According to a report from Football Insider, Spurs staff also have a concrete interest in Martinez, after being impressed by his performances with Argentina at the World Cup.
The Lilywhites have been watching the 30-year-old closely during his time with Aston Villa, and they are currently doing background checks to assess his skill-set, character and lifestyle before they commit to launching a summer bid.
The Verdict: Get it done?
The 26-time Argentina international was outstanding in Qatar, being hailed for the vital role he played in winning the World Cup and described as ‘world class’ by members of the media.
At club level, the former Arsenal man has also looked impressive this season, recently putting in an incredible performance in Villa’s 1-0 victory at Southampton, making four saves from inside the box and receiving the highest Sofascore rating of any player.
That said, the 6 foot 5 colossus is now 30-years-old, meaning he is unlikely to be a long-term solution for Spurs between the sticks, while he has also recorded a far worse save percentage and has conceded more than goals Mamardashvili over the past year.
Given that the Georgian is just 22-years-old, he would be a far better option for Conte in the summer transfer window, providing Spurs can negotiate about his £88m release clause.
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