In a recent report, The Daily Mail has stated that Tottenham Hotspur could move in for Burnley keeper Nick Pope if their current number one goalie, Hugo Lloris, leaves at the end of this season. It is understood that Spurs have identified the English keeper as an ideal target to replace Lloris, who is on Paris Saint-Germain’s radar ahead of the summer transfer window (via The Daily Mail).
Pope’s Impressive Form In The Premier League This Season
Pope is enjoying another solid season at Turf Moor as he has put in a series of outstanding displays as the first-choice keeper of Sean Dyche’s attack. The Soham-born sensation has taken part in 25 matches for the Clarets this term, shipping in 26 goals while grabbing nine clean sheets across all competitions.
The 28-year-old deserves a pat on the back for averaging 1.2 clearances and 9.1 long balls per game in the Premier League. However, he has often gone long when distributing the ball, which is why he has completed just 46.2% of his attempted passes in the top tier of English football (stats via whoscored).
The way Pope has been playing over the past 18 months, it is no wonder that a top club like Tottenham are eyeing a move to bring him to North London when the transfer window reopens later this year.
What Are The English Keeper’s Best Attributes?
Pope can position himself well inside his penalty box and excels at using his quick reflexes to pull off some world-class saves at the back. The Clarets star is a no-nonsense keeper as he doesn’t take too many risks when the opposition attackers are closing him down. The English sensation can get a lot of distance with his long passes, which suits Burnley’s playing style quite well. However, it remains to be seen whether he can adapt to playing more short passes if a big club like Spurs decide to recruit him at the end of this campaign.
Is Pope The Right Choice For Mourinho?
Pope has got the temperament and shot-stopping ability to be a success story at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. He is not as experienced as Lloris at the highest level but has still got plenty of years left in his locker to play at his best. At 28, he has a lot of room for improvement, so Jose Mourinho might fancy his chances of getting the best out of him in the coming seasons.
With all things considered, Pope will be an excellent choice for the North London outfit to consider during the summer transfer period as he will be a capable replacement for Lloris, who is edging closer towards the twilight years of his playing career.
