Tottenham Hotspur sporting director Fabio Paratici is believed to be eyeing a move for Sevilla star, Yassine Bounou, with the Lilywhites seeking a potential replacement for club captain, Hugo Lloris, in the sticks.
What’s the latest on Yassine Bounou to Spurs?
According to Spanish outlet La Razon, the north Londoners are said to be interested in signing the 31-year-old ahead of next season, with the Premier League outfit reportedly willing to include promising forward Bryan Gil as part of the deal in order to lower the cost.
The report outlines that while the Moroccan international had been valued at around €30m (£26m) during the summer, amid interest from Paratici and co, his value has seemingly ‘risen’ since his displays at the World Cup – with the experienced stopper said to have a release clause of close to €50m (£44m).
This comes amid a report from AS earlier this week that also suggested that Spurs could make another approach at the end of the current campaign, having seemingly made an attempt during the January window.
Could Bounou be an upgrade on Lloris?
In the short term, Antonio Conte’s side are facing something of a goalkeeping crisis amid the loss of their experienced skipper to injury, with the club having seemingly been denied the chance to bring Ben Foster out of retirement as an emergency option.
In the long-term, however, there does appear to be a need for a new recruit in the goalkeeping ranks, with that man Lloris having been under the microscope for his abject form of late, notably making high-profile errors against the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal last month.
While the 36-year-old only recently extended his contract at the club until 2024, it does remain to be seen if the Frenchman will remain as the first-choice option beyond this season, with Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher having described him as a “liability” after his blunders against City – having notably failed to keep out Riyad Mahrez’s effort at the near post.
As Carragher stated, Conte and co simply “need a new goalkeeper next season“, with the former Lyon man having become far too unreliable of late, after making the most errors leading to goals in the top-flight this season (4) – twice as many as any other player.
Turning to the aforementioned Bounou – also known as ‘Bono’ – could well be that big upgrade that Tottenham are craving, with the dependable “monster“, as described by journalist Ives Galarcep, having impressed for both club and country of late.
The 6 foot 5 colossus was notably a vital part of Morocco’s surge the last four of the World Cup in Qatar, with the Canadian-born gem conceding just five goals in six outings in the tournament, while keeping three clean sheets.
Equally, the towering asset has also impressed at club level this season having made no errors leading to goals from his 19 La Liga appearances, having also saved one of three penalties he has faced so far this term.
In contrast to Lloris – who has been branded “useless” at saving spot-kicks by pundit Gabby Agbonlahor – Bono also appears far more comfortable in possession as he ranks in the top 15% among his European peers for touches made, while the current Spurs man ranks in just the bottom 11% in that regard.
As such, if Paratici and Conte are looking to dispense with Lloris sooner rather than later, they could secure a big upgrade by turning to the Sevilla sensation instead.
