According to The Sun, Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing a move for Mike Maignan. The LOSC Lille goalkeeper has been reportedly identified as the club’s desired alternative for Hugo Lloris as Jose Mourinho looks to add more competition in the goalkeeping department. In fact, Spurs could soon submit an offer for Maignan this summer, with the Frenchman being valued at around £16 million.
Mike Maignan: One of the best goalkeepers in Ligue 1
A product of the PSG youth academy, Maignan has enjoyed a lot of success following his €1 million move to LOSC Lille in 2015. Although it wasn’t until the 2017/18 campaign when the goalkeeper managed to make his breakthrough in Ligue 1, he has since emerged as a first-team regular in the French top flight.
In fact, the 24-year-old has already notched up 111 Ligue 1 appearances so far, with 28 of them coming in the past season. The Frenchman has notably averaged 2.1 saves per game and conceded only 0.96 goals per 90 mins, which is fourth lowest in the league.
Also, Maignan attained a respectable save percentage rate of 70% while ending the campaign with the joint highest number of clean sheets (12 – tied with Reims ‘keeper Predrag Rajkovic). His contributions in between the sticks, therefore, were critical as Lille finished fourth, securing UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds.
Why Tottenham must sign Mike Maignan
Tottenham Hotspur’s recent 3-1 defeat to Sheffield United has made it evident that the club needs a massive overhaul in the defensive department. Hugo Lloris, in particular, has had a disappointing evening and his decline over the past couple of years further accentuates the need for a new goalkeeper this summer.
Indeed, the Frenchman hasn’t been able to instil confidence in between the sticks. His handling and decision making have also been questionable while second choice ‘keeper Paulo Gazzaniga hasn’t made a huge impact either. Maignan, in that regard, should be an ideal solution to Spurs’ problems in the goalkeeping department.
As mentioned earlier, the Lille goalkeeper is one of the finest in the Ligue 1. Standing at 1.91m, the 24-year-old has a proper sense of positioning as well as the physical prowess that allows him to impose his dominance inside the six-yard box.
However, what makes Maignan such an appealing target for Tottenham is his £16 million price-tag, which is quite inexpensive even though the market has deflated a bit following the Coronavirus pandemic. And with Spurs likely to make some moves in the market this summer, going after a cut-price option like Maignan is indeed a wise choice by Jose Mourinho.
Stat courtesy: FBref & Whoscored
