Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a potentially serious blow after Hugo Lloris reported back for pre-season training hampered by a wrist injury and scans confirmed a fracture that could rule out the France goalkeeper for the start of the campaign.
Lloris, who earned his 66th and 67th caps in Les Bleus’ friendly defeats to Belgium and Albania last month, returned to Spurs on Monday but, once his wrist had been examined, left the club’s Enfield base wearing a splint on the joint. Rehabilitation for fractures can be up to eight weeks. Tottenham begin their Premier League campaign at Manchester United on 8 August.
The club released a statement confirming the injury. “The France goalkeeper will continue to work alongside the first-team squad to build up his fitness in a bid to be ready for the start of the season,” Tottenham said. “Our medical team will continue to monitor his rehabilitation and progress during pre-season.”
Lloris, who was recruited from Lyon for £8m in 2012, is Tottenham’s first-choice goalkeeper and signed a new contract last summer on improved terms to run through to 2019. However, the Frenchman admitted last month that there comes a time “to think about yourself” when it became clear David de Gea’s future at United was in doubt after Real Madrid declared an interest in luring the goalkeeper back to the Spanish capital.
The 28-year-old Lloris has long made it clear to the Spurs chairman, Daniel Levy, he is anxious to play in the Champions League, where he had featured in each of his four years with his previous side, particularly before Euro 2016 in his homeland. Yet the France captain’s time at White Hart Lane has failed to yield a return to Europe’s elite competition and a fifth-place finish last season ensured the Europa League awaits yet again.“You don’t know what could happen,” said Lloris in an interview with L’Equipe. “There is one important thing: there is a moment to think about yourself, to sit down and reflect, but when that moment has passed and the season starts, you’re fully committed to the club’s project and to the team (you’re with).” Asked if that moment to reflect had now come, he added: “Voilà. But you don’t control everything.”
Spurs are adamant that one of their most consistent players over recent seasons is not available for transfer. Should Lloris be unavailable at the start of the Premier League campaign, they will turn to Michel Vorm, who made only four top-flight appearances for the London club last season following his £5m arrival from Swansea City.
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