Tottenham Hotspur ‘preparing offer’ for ‘Hugo Lloris’ replacement’ as World Cup winner identified

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in luring Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez to North London, according to reports in Argentina.

Argentine journalist Gaston Edul claims Spurs could make an offer “in the coming weeks” for Martinez, who joined Villa from Arsenal in the summer of 2020.

He played a key role in Argentina’s World Cup triumph in Qatar and has been a regular in the Villa side after failing to establish himself across North London.

Lloris, currently out through injury, is under contract until the summer of 2024 having penned a two-year extension last summer.

Martinez turned 30 in September while Lloris is 36 and it appears unlikely he will be offered a new deal at Tottenham before his contract expires at the end of next season.

The potential of Champions League football could prove tempting for Martinez, who has proven himself at international level with Argentina.

He signed a five-year contract extension last year, which will keep him at Villa Park until 2027. However, former Aston Villa goalkeeping coach Neil Cutler has previously suggested a transfer could be in the pipeline.

“I don’t think he (Martinez) will up and leave right now, because Emi is happy. He will have his head down, but I am sure his agent will be working behind the scenes to try and find a Champions League club,” Cutler, who was with Villa until Unai Emery’s arrival, told the Mirror in January.

“It will be up to Villa to keep striving to get into Europe, because with the size of the club and the ambitions, that has to be the aim.”