Futballnews reports that Tottenham Hotspur have been keeping an eye on Athletic Club and Spain No.1 Unai Simon, as they see him as a potential long-term replacement for Hugo Lloris between the sticks.
The Frenchman is club captain at Spurs and remains the number one choice, just as he has been for about a decade. Recently, Lloris registered a new contract, however, he turned 35 in December and the idea at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is to undergo a transition period while he remains at the club.
Unai Simon’s impressive displays for club and country have created great attention Londo, and at 24 years old he already had close to 100 LaLiga Santander appearances – the 100th will come at the Camp Nou on Sunday – to his name, together with 20 Spain caps.
Representing La Roja, Unai Simon is an European champion at under-21 and under-19 level, as well as an Olympic silver medallist. Now strongly Luis Enrique’s No.1 in Spain’s senior squad, he was featured in the run to the Euro 2020 semi-finals and the Nations League final in 2021.
Does Unai Simon have a release clause?
If Spurs are quite serious about pursuing Unai Simon, but, the Basque ‘keeper won’t come that easily or cheaply. He has a contract with Los Leones till 2025 which contains no release clause, a statement of loyalty that has been a feature of numerous present contract renewals at San Mames.
“As long as Athletic want me here, I’ll stay,” as disclosed by Unai Simon the last time he was asked about his future.
“I owe the life I have to Athletic and I want to pay them back the best way I can, which is by defending the goal at San Mames in every game.”
Already, Spurs do have another potential Lloris replacement on the books in Pierluigi Gollini, as the Italian goalkeeper signed on loan from Atalanta last summer in a deal which consists a choice to purchase and a choice to extend the loan by one year.
So far, though, the 27-year-old has had 10 appearances for the club, however, none in the Premier League. If he plays 20 times, the buy option would be automatically activated.
