Tottenham Hotspur have been told that it would be 'massive' to tie down skipper Hugo Lloris to a new contract. 

Former Leeds United forward Noel Whelan was discussing the goalkeeper's future with Football Insider.

The lowdown

Lloris' Tottenham contract is due to expire at the end of the current season, but the publication have reported that talks are now underway over an extension.

The 34-year-old wants to pen a new multi-year agreement, and Spurs are keen to keep him. The Frenchman's present deal sees him take home £100,000 per week, making him one of the six highest earners at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

His contract may be the club's immediate priority, with every other senior star committed until at least 2023 aside from initial loan signings Cristian Romero and Pierluigi Gollini.

The latest

Whelan confessed himself surprised at the news from a Spurs source that talks were underway, having been under the impression that Spurs were looking for a replacement. However, he feels that it's the right move, given that Lloris is still 'one of the best goalkeepers in the world' in his view.

The BBC pundit told Football Insider: "I think it'd be a huge plus, it really would be. For the past year and a half, we've been thinking that he's going to go on a free, is he going to go to another club? Are they looking for successors to take his place?

"Wherever you mention Hugo Lloris' name, he stands out as one of the best goalkeepers in the world. To tie him down would be a massive signing. Good goalkeepers like that are very hard to come by, they really are."

Whelan also feels that agreeing a new deal with Lloris would send a message to the club's other star players. He said: "The fact that he loves the club, has been there such a long time. It would just be a sign to the other players that they’ll do anything to keep the best players at the club.

"There's no doubt about it. He's a leader, he's been the captain for Tottenham Hotspur as well. That to me is crucial.

"If they can manage to do that, that would show massive progress and an indication that they mean business."

The verdict

Whelan may have seen a report from The Telegraph last month suggesting that Spurs were lining up an heir to Lloris in the form of Everton's Jordan Pickford.

Could that be considered a downgrade? The Frenchman is comfortably out-performing his English peer in the shot-stopping metrics this season, having 'prevented' 0.8 expected goals while Pickford has conceded three more than he 'should' have (via FBRef).

What's more, the Toffees netminder has an averaged one error leading to an opposition goal every 12.6 games in his Premier League career, compared to every 16.5 games for Lloris.

Perhaps Spurs have recognised that, as long as Lloris continues to deliver, it's wise to stick by him. It's little wonder that Whelan has talked him up so enthusiastically.

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