THE END IS NIGH FOR TOTTENHAM SENIOR PLAYER AFTER CLUB REPORTEDLY CLOSE IN ON £7M SIGNING
This is Michel Vorm’s third season as the back-up Tottenham goalkeeper. And it is likely to be the last.
The end is nigh for Dutchman Vorm, 33, at White Hart Lane after reports emerged in Spain on Tuesday that Mauricio Pochettino has decided to activate the the clause in Pau Lopez’s loan deal to buy him from Espanyol.
Spanish newspaper
Sport claim manager Pochettino has been so impressed by the third-choice goalkeeper, 22, that he has given the go-ahead to a permanent transfer nearly three months before the end-of-April deadline.
The deal, it is said, will cost Tottenham more than £6.5million in total, taking into account the loan charge for this season.
Given that the same news outlet led the way in revealing every development of Lopez’s move to White Hart Lane last summer, it is safe to say the information is well sourced.
It is also fairly well copper-bottomed that Pochettino and his staff have big plans for Spaniard Lopez, who graduated through the ranks at the club once managed by the Argentine.
The writing is now on the wall for Vorm, even though his Tottenham contract runs until the summer of 2018.
It is inevitable that Lopez will soon displace Vorm and become the deputy for skipper and undisputed No1 Hugo Lloris.
The role of back-up keeper might be regarded by many as incidental, and a rainy-day option, but Vorm has made eight appearances this season, seven of which have been starts.
He has started all of Spurs’ domestic cup matches and was press-ganged into a rare league appearance only last week when Lloris’ unavailability meant Vorm played at Sunderland.
As always, the Dutchman did a solid job and kept a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw that put a dent in Tottenham’s title hopes.
But the safe pair of hands is set to eventually make way for the new, young hope.
Little has been seen of Lopez this season outside of the training ground and Under-23 matches in Premier League 2, but the coaching staff have been worked on adapting his game to English football and the playing style of the first team.
Reports suggest the Espanyol keeper has responded well and is fully tuned to the demands placed upon him.
Tottenham’s forward planning in the transfer market is increasingly impressive, and club staff appear convinced they have discovered a real gem.
Lopez is yet to make a first-team appearance but that is likely to change next season when he climbs up the White Hart Lane ladder.
