Any debate regarding the future of current Tottenham players has tended to focus on a superstar striker and a couple of England international midfielders. How long will Harry Kane be sticking around? Are Dele Alli and Harry Winks destined to depart for pastures new?
They remain open-ended questions for now, and there are plenty more where they came from. One of those concerns the plans of World Cup-winning goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, with there being short and long-term posers to be found when it comes to an experienced France international.
For now, Kane and Co remain tied to contracts that stretch well beyond the end of the current campaign. A first-choice option between the sticks sits outside of that bracket, as free agency beckons in the summer of 2022.
There are more pressing concerns for Spurs at present, with Antonio Conte looking to chase down major silverware and a top-four finish. The team, that has underperformed for too long, are currently priced at 18/5 odds, according to the outright Space Casino betting markets, to secure Champions League qualification, with others earning greater favour at present.
If ultimate targets are to be hit, then key men will have to deliver from back to front. Kane will always be charged with the task of providing inspiration in front of the goal, but Lloris is as important to the collective cause when it comes to repelling opponents at the opposite end of the field.
A big decision needs to be made on what to do with him, with a definitive call required sooner rather than later. Uncertainty is the last thing that a North London outfit needs right now, with the collective focus having to be narrowed on clearly-defined targets.
What will happen?
Spurs have not been in this position for the best part of a decade. By the time Lloris’ terms come to a close, he will have spent a total of ten years in English football. Injuries permitting, he will pass the 400-appearance mark by the time another well-earned break is taken in.
Will he head off on his holidays with an extended deal under his belt or with a new challenge about to be embraced? There have been plenty of noises to suggest that talks at Tottenham will deliver a positive outcome, with Conte reluctant to part with a proven performer at the very top of a global game.
Plans do, however, have to be drawn up for life after Lloris. That day may be pushed back for a couple more years, but he will not be around forever. A suitable successor needs to be lined up before being backed into a corner.
Options are out there and investing in potential at this stage would allow said addition to be eased into the fold before eventually taking on the top job in a number one spot. Conte is not the type of coach to leave things to chance, with the Italian renowned for his relentless work ethic and attention to detail.
With that in mind, another shot-stopper could soon be welcomed through the doors at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Spurs are not in an either-or situation with Lloris, where a choice has to be made between him and an alternative. The best of both worlds can be enjoyed, with there every reason to believe that a new contract can be accompanied by a new arrival.