According to Football.London, Tottenham Hotspur have identified Mike Maignan as their desired replacement for Hugo Lloris. The LOSC Lille goalkeeper is topping the club’s wishlist for a new goalkeeper as they prepare for life without their current number one. However, Maignan could cost around £20 million.
Mike Maignan’s success at Lille
A product of the PSG youth academy, Maignan has been a part of the LOSC Lille setup since 2015 when he joined the club for a fee of just €1 million. However, it wasn’t until the 2017/18 campaign when he became a first-choice keeper for the Ligue 1 outfit. He made 34 league appearances in the corresponding campaign, and since then, his contributions in between the sticks have been critical for the club.
Last season, for example, Maignan conceded only 33 goals. He did not necessarily make the highest number of saves in the division, notching up a total of 92 saves. And that was due to Lille’s excellent defence that barely allowed the opposition from attempting too many shots on goal. As a result, they finished the campaign with the best defensive record in the league.
The Frenchman hasn’t exactly performed at the same level this season. But, he has still managed to make 59 saves in 29 matches, even though Lille have conceded more goals than their rivals so far.
Style of play and characteristics
A key feature of Maignan is the tall 1.91m frame that allows him to cover a lot of area in goal. It is combined with his excellent positioning sense, which enables him to often come out from goal and cover angles quickly. The 24-year-old is quite quick off his mark, which is an essential trait for any modern-day ‘keeper.
Moreover, the Frenchman is calm and composed on the ball, allowing him to distribute possession from the back and provide an additional passing option to his centre-backs.
Is Maignan a good option for Spurs?
Tottenham Hotspur haven’t had much success with Paulo Gazzaniga while Lloris’ decline has been quite evident over the past couple of years. Maignan, in that regard, would be an ideal replacement.
At the age of 24, the Lille star has a vast amount of experience at the highest level of football, having made 132 competitive appearances for his club. But more importantly, he has all the traits of the modern goalkeeper as well as the talent to compete with other top goalkeepers in the Premier League. And for a fee of just £20 million, Maignan could be more than just a bargain for Spurs.
