Three Premier League goalkeepers who could leave their clubs this summer
The Premier League is set to conclude in less than 30 days, having gifted its viewers with endless tales primed to enter legend and beyond.
While many clubs have lots left to play for, their management will have one eye on the transfer market. Players alike will also look to take the next step in their careers.
Since the winter transfer window, there have been several stories making the rounds at the rumour mill daily. With that chatter arrives a lengthy list of potential movement between clubs for goalkeepers, which we are going to dive into.
Below we discuss three goalkeepers who could be out of their respective clubs this summer.
#1 David Raya
Brentford have belied expectations this season courtesy of their expansive footballing style, sturdy center-half pair, an envious ability to snatch games from under the opposition’s nose in injury time, and David Raya.
No custodian in the PL has made more saves than the Spaniard; a noticeably crucial involvement that could lead to the Bees finishing in the top half of the table.
Raya, however, has expressed his desire to play for a bigger club. He recently admitted “I turned down two contracts, one last year and one this January. They weren’t the offers we were looking for. I can only say that. I have a contract here, so I’m willing to finish that, but you never know what’s going to happen in the summer. Maybe the club wants to sell, maybe not. Maybe I want to stay. I want to focus on football and see what happens.”
The 27-year-old further conceded “I have big ambitions. I want to play in Europe, and I want to fight to win a title. I want to fight to win a European title. I trust myself to be able to play those types of games.”
Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are all understood to be casting a keen eye on Raya.
#2 Edouard Mendy
Edouard Mendy’s Chelsea career has fallen off completely. Since Thomas Tuchel’s sacking, the Senegalese has found himself either on the bench or in the treatment room.
Mendy, one of Chelsea’s most prominent players not so long ago, has been bearing the brunt of sloppy play with the ball – one of his weaker suits as a goalkeeper. Rewind to him making a mess of a back pass with Karim Benzema in last season’s UCL knockouts, and it’s never quite turned around for him since.
He hasn’t featured for the Blues since match day 16, having fallen behind Kepa Arrizabalaga in the pecking order and sustaining a finger injury.
Chelsea, overall, are looking to revamp their goalkeeping roster as well. They’ve been linked with a move for Borussia Dortmund shot-stopper Gregor Kobel, according to Bild.
Mauricio Pochettino’s imminent announcement and preference could play a role in the 31-year-old’s Chelsea career. The talent is clearly there, but as of now, Mendy’s future is hanging on by a thread.
#3 Hugo Lloris
Spurs skipper Hugo Lloris has been a lynchpin for over a decade, currently manning the goal for them in his 11th season – with 447 appearances and counting.
Claiming he has developed as a goalkeeper, leader, and a person outside of football during his time at Tottenham would be an understatement. But all good things must come to an end.
No player in the league is guilty of more errors leading to goals directly than Lloris (four) this term, and it can be argued that he is left behind in a world where goalkeepers are evolving in possession.
As the club seeks reinforcements in various departments, they’ll have to take a call, with a new manager slated to take the reins. Lloris’ contract expires in 2025, and at 36, he could be heading back to France – possibly where it all started for him – OGC Nice.
Tottenham have slipped in the race for the Champions League spots, winning just once in their last five attempts. They are now six points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester United, with two extra games played.
-Roy Akarshak
Photo: Happiraphael. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.