The days of Hugo Lloris at Tottenham Hotspur seem to be coming to an end. The Daily Mail’s Sami Mokbel reports that negotiations are on for Tottenham’s longest-serving first team player and former captain to join Los Angeles FC in the Major League Soccer (MLS) when the January transfer market opens.
Lloris would have served 11 years at Tottenham if this were to occur, which it appears likely would at this stage.
Hugo had planned to go this past summer, and Tottenham was prepared to let him go after appointing Guglielmo Vicario as their primary keeper. However, Lloris declined multiple offers, including a heartfelt return to Nice, his hometown team, because he desired playing time for the first team. Rather, he has trained but not played for the first part of this season while not on the team.
Hugo may seem like an odd fit for LAFC at first, but he would be replacing Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, who is reportedly out of contract. Hugo, a former international goalkeeper with experience, will probably start with LAFC and earn a respectable salary—if not Premier League-caliber—as well as the opportunity to reside in Los Angeles with his family until he makes the decision to put up his boots. Not a bad value at all.
Since Hugo’s Tottenham deal expires in June, I find it hard to believe Tottenham will demand payment for him to go. Since Hugo is paid £100k per week, Spurs may now invest a larger portion of their pay cost on new players. Ultimately, it will probably be worthwhile to get Hugo out of the door.
For any Tottenham supporters residing on the west coast who would like to visit BMO Stadium to witness Hugo live next season, this is wonderful news. Whenever this agreement is completed, we should receive confirmation within the following day or two from the club as well as from other sources.
Hugo is among Tottenham’s greatest goalkeepers ever, if not the greatest, and has been an amazing servant to the team. However, everything must come to an end. Hugo, good bye.
