Tottenham to sign rising star for £6.5m two months early after Pochettino go-ahead – report
By Harry Sykes
Mauricio Pochettino has given the green light for Tottenham to complete the permanent signing of goalkeeper Pau Lopez, according to a report.
Spanish newspaper Sport claim the Spurs manager has been so impressed by the 22-year-old that he has decided to activate the clause in his loan deal to buy him from Espanyol.
It is said that manager Pochettino has made the decision sign Lopez permanently two months ahead of the original deadline initially agreed by the two clubs of between April and May.
The Spanish goalkeeper moved to White Hart Lane last summer on a loan-to-buy deal, which included the option for the London giants to sign him permanently.
Sport report that, barring a last-minute U-turn from Tottenham, the transfer will be signed off for a fee of £6million, making the total outlay including the season-long loan worth £6.5million.
Tottenham’s coaching staff have been impressed by the progress made by Lopez, who has accepted that he is the third choice keeper at the club and that the plan for this season was for him to adapt to the club’s training methods and playing style.
Skipper Hugo Lloris is the undisputed number one at the Premier League club and Michel Vorm, 33, is his understudy.
The Frenchman has made 27 first-team appearances this season, while Vorm has accumulated eight, seven of which have been starts.
Lopez has yet to make his first-team debut but is expected to be handed some opportunities next season after signing permanently.
In other Tottenham news, Daniel Levy has lined up the next Spurs arrival as the deal is all but done.
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