A worrying update has emerged over the future of Hugo Lloris at Tottenham Hotspur...
What's the word?
According to the ever-reliable Alasdair Gold of football.london, the north London outfit are yet to discuss a new contract with their club captain as he soon enters the final six months of his current £100k-per-week deal.
"I get the sense that Lloris has been undervalued massively by those who make the contract decisions within the club. He's probably Spurs' most consistent player and at 35, he's making less mistakes than ever and pulling off plenty of top drawer saves.
"Conte loves him and is probably just as bewildered that he's coming to the end of his contract," he claimed in a recent Q&A with supporters, before adding:
"As of the start of this week there had been no movement on a new contract for Lloris but there is a belief that all sides want a deal done.
"The problem for Tottenham is that from Saturday foreign clubs can start discussing a free transfer in the summer with their captain. Who knows what offers he will get and what suits him and his family best at this point in his career?"
Free to leave
Indeed, as of tomorrow (January 1st), the Spurs skipper is free to speak to foreign clubs about a potential switch, in which the Lilywhites would receive nothing for his departure.
It would be a devastating blow to Conte, who as Gold claims really likes the veteran World Cup-winning glovesman, as well as the fanbase, who admire their longest-serving player as one of the few favourites within the current squad.
If both sides want a deal to be done, then why hasn't there been movement in that regard? It's an awfully risky game to play heading into January as it could leave the Italian head coach without a first-choice goalkeeper next season.
Some reports this week suggest that the Spurs boss isn't convinced by his back-up, Pierluigi Gollini, whilst Lloris' boyhood club OGC Nice are one of the teams keen to secure the 35-year-old's signature.
No player has played more minutes for the Lilywhites than Lloris (1,530) in the Premier League this season, with the shot-stopper ranking inside the top ten for their best performers, per WhoScored, which suggests he very much is integral to Spurs' unbeaten form under Conte.
The fact that Spurs have allowed this situation to rumble into 2022 is a major cause for concern and it may well leave the Italian absolutely fuming.
AND in other news, Conte can finally axe Spurs' "freak of a talent" by signing "explosive" £27m-rated gem...