After being promised £150 million to invest both on and off the pitch, Antonio Conte has laid the groundwork to make his first Summer signing as Tottenham manager. The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath reports Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster will imminently make a switch to north London following the expiration of his contract with the Saints.
The news comes as Spurs carry out their search for a new no. 2 goalkeeper to provide assurances between the sticks if club captain Hugo Lloris was to pick up an injury. Current backup and loanee Pierluigi Gollini looks set to depart upon the conclusion of his loan spell. The Italian shotstopper announced he “would stay at Tottenham” if the opportunity arose, but that now seems unlikely given the news surrounding Forster.
This is a sensible signing for Spurs to make at the beginning of a window. It nullifies an issue which needed to be quashed and in Forster they bring in a player with bags of Premier League experience, and of course experience in continental competition from his time at Celtic. Also boasting six England caps, the 34-year-old will be a useful figure to have in and around the squad.
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One would assume Southampton will now look to acquire the services of a new goalkeeper after losing a man who started half of their games last season. Willy Caballero and Harry Lewis’ contracts are also set to expire next week, leaving the error prone Alex McCarthy as the club’s only recognised first-team goalkeeper.
As for Spurs, attention will now shift to strengthening in outfield positions. Sky Sports report as many as four more players could be signed following Forster’s arrival, with the club targeting a centre-back, wing-back, central midfielder, and a striker. Inter Milan centre-back Alessandro Bastoni and Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus are said to be on the club’s radar.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Transfers, Antonio Conte