Espanyol goalkeeper on verge of unexpected Spurs move
Several sources including the Daily Mail have suggested that Tottenham Hotspur could launch a surprise bid for Espanyol goalkeeper Pau Lopez. Pau Lopez was previously in the Espanyol youth academy while Mauricio Pochettino managed at Espanyol. It appears the talent he saw in Lopez then and his subsequent rise through the Espanyol ranks has convinced Pochettino that he is worth bringing to the club. However, some sources suggest that while Tottenham have submitted a bid, it was a fraction of what Espanyol wanted, with the Spanish club reportedly hesitant to let the young goalkeeper go unless Tottenham activate his buyout clause – in the region of £13million. While Pau Lopez would certainly represent a signing with the future in mind more than the present, it will be interesting to see whether the North London club will be more eager to tie up the signing of Lopez now that goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is out with a month-long hamstring injury .
While Espanyol see Lopez as a promising young prospect, Espanyol’s debts totalling ov er 100million euros and the existence of a buyout clause may mean that Espanyol are powerless to prevent Lopez leaving despite the financial assistance of a new, more equitable TV deal in La Liga.