Tottenham Hotspur number one Hugo Lloris has revealed that he would be open to an exit from the North London club this summer.
The 36-year-old has been the Lilywhites' number one for the past 11 years since departing Lyon in 2012, but he was the subject of heavy criticism during the 2022-23 season.
Lloris made a division-high four errors directly leading to a goal in the recently-ended Premier League campaign, where Spurs missed out on European football for the first time in 13 years with an eighth-placed finish.
The former France international missed Spurs' final six games of the campaign with a hip injury sustained in their 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Newcastle United, which may now prove to be a miserable farewell outing for the shot-stopper.
Lloris - who turns 37 in December - is only under contract with Tottenham until the summer of 2024, and the Lilywhites are expected to be in the market for a new number one ahead of the new season, as backup goalkeeper Fraser Forster is not a long-term solution either.
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Amid calls for his departure from disgruntled fans, Lloris has confirmed that he wants to seek out a new challenge away from North London, although he respects the fact that he is still under contract with the Lilywhites.
"We are coming to an important moment, whether for the club or for me. It's the end of an era. I have desires for other things," Lloris told French outlet Nice-Matin.
"I will ask myself quietly to study what will be possible. But I don't forget that I still have a year of contract with Tottenham and that in football it is always difficult to predict what will happen.
"What is essential at the moment is to recover well from my injury. I'm on vacation but I continue to talk and do my training. My goal is to be on top in July, then we'll see what the future holds for me."
Lloris is rumoured to have received a triple-your-money contract offer from an unnamed Saudi Arabian club, which would see him pocket £300,000 per week, but the Frenchman has also opened the door to a future return to Nice, who he represented for 11 years between 1997 and 2008.
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Lloris played 78 games for Les Aiglons after coming through their youth system, keeping 30 clean sheets, and he can envisage an Allianz Riviera homecoming amid uncertainty over the future of current Nice number one Kasper Schmeichel.
"Nice is my city, my club, my roots. There is a season that must end, as best as possible, with the goalkeepers in place. I am not demanding, I have never forced things," Lloris added.
"We'll see where fate takes me. I am delighted to be invited to the Allianz Riviera against Lyon. I will see former coaches, former partners. I really want to enjoy this moment."
Lloris sits eighth on Tottenham's all-time appearance list, having played 447 games for the Lilywhites in all competitions, and the 36-year-old has kept 151 clean sheets in the process.
Brentford's David Raya is believed to be Spurs' top goalkeeping target this summer, but the Lilywhites are supposedly falling short of the Bees' £40m asking price for the Spaniard, who is also wanted by Chelsea and Manchester United.
Chelsea's Edouard Mendy, Valencia's Giorgi Mamardashvili and Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez are also said to be admired by Tottenham, but Daniel Levy will prioritise the appointment of a new head coach and sporting director before turning his attention to the transfer market.
Ben Knapton
