Tottenham Hotspur could be on the lookout for a new goalkeeper ahead of the summer transfer window, if recent reports are to be believed...

What's the word?

One target that has emerged is FC Porto and Portugal no.1, Diogo Costa, after 90min claimed that the Lilywhites had been scouting him ahead of a potential swoop.

Spurs are one of several Premier League teams to have taken a close look at the 23-year-old, whilst free-spending Chelsea and Manchester United are also named in the report.

The Portuguese shot-stopper is thought to have a €75m (£66m) release clause at the Estadio do Dragao, so he's unlikely to come cheap.

Bye-bye Lloris?

Perhaps it should come as little surprise to see the north Londoners keeping tabs on other goalkeepers heading into next season as current first-choice and club captain Hugo Lloris has been quite erratic, if not wholly inconsistent.

His form has arguably taken a dip over the last 18 to 24 months but since his return from the World Cup - where his France side tasted defeat in the final to Cristian Romero and Argentina - he hasn't been the same.

Aston Villa punished a big blunder on New Year's Day to secure all three points at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before the 36-year-old conceded an own goal to league leaders and arch-rivals Arsenal, then against Manchester City a couple of weeks ago, he was easily beaten at his near post.

Such form has led to criticism, with many slamming the £100k-per-week star as a "liability" and the "weak link" in defence, which is not something that manager Antonio Conte will want lingering around next season - if he's still in the dugout.

Costa could prove to be a natural and long-term successor, one that is ready now.

Having taken the gloves from Jose Sa and Rui Patricio in Qatar, the 6 foot 1 titan has emerged as one of Europe's most promising young goalkeepers - having also been dubbed as a "wall" by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

With 93 senior appearances, four major honours and 11 caps already under his belt, Costa is far from inexperienced, so he really could be an option that's ready to take between the sticks now, rather than in a few years' time.

When Costa is compared to fellow goalkeepers in FBref's 'next eight' divisions, he's in a league of his own, ranking inside the top 1% for goals conceded (just 0.61 per 90), whilst he also sits among the top 2% for clean sheet percentage (54.8%) and the top 12% for crosses stopped (8.5%) per 90.

The latter facet is arguably one of Lloris' weak points, with the French veteran conceding more goals per 90 (1.13), keeping fewer clean sheets per 90 (37.8%) and stopping fewer crosses (6.9%), per FBref.

Therefore, Spurs sporting director Fabio Paratici could allow Conte to finally ditch the long-serving Lloris with a summer swoop for the Porto "giant" - as once hailed by his Portugal teammate Bruno Fernandes - as on the above evidence, he'd be a likely upgrade in the long run.

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