Transfer Centre

Tottenham Hotspur considering Ben Foster move after Hugo Lloris injury?

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 08 February 2023

Tottenham considering Ben Foster move after Lloris injury?

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly considering a move for retired goalkeeper Ben Foster after Hugo Lloris was ruled out for six to eight weeks with a knee injury.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly considering a move for the recently-retired Ben Foster as emergency cover following Hugo Lloris's knee injury.

Lloris completed the full 90 minutes as Spurs claimed a 1-0 win over Manchester City in Sunday's Premier League clash courtesy of Harry Kane's record-breaking 267th Tottenham goal.

However, the Frenchman left the game with ligament damage, and scans have subsequently revealed a severe injury for Antonio Conte's number one.

Lloris is understood to be facing six to eight weeks on the sidelines, ruling him out of both of Spurs' Champions League last-16 clashes with AC Milan as well as a number of Premier League matches.

In Lloris's absence, Fraser Forster will take control of the gloves for the time being, but Spurs are supposedly concerned about a lack of senior cover behind the ex-Southampton man.

France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris celebrates on December 10, 2022 © Reuters

Conte has both Alfie Whiteman and Brandon Austin at his disposal, but neither member of the duo has made their senior competitive debut for the Lilywhites.

As a result, The Mirror claims that Tottenham could try to coax former Manchester United goalkeeper Foster out of retirement on a short-term deal while Lloris recovers.

The 39-year-old hung up his boots at the end of the 2021-22 season when his contract at Watford expires, but the report claims that he would still be available to Tottenham.

Foster - who turns 40 in April - revealed last year that he rejected the chance to prolong his career with Newcastle United, who were seeking cover for Nick Pope after Karl Darlow's injury.

Instead, the Magpies moved for Loris Karius after being turned down by the ex-England international, who revealed on his YouTube channel that not wanting to move away from his family was one of the main factors in his decision to reject the approach.

Fraser Forster warms up for Tottenham Hotspur on December 21, 2022 © Reuters

"I had this deep feeling, and the wrench of it was that I'd have to move away from home, that would kill me," Foster said.

"If I'm in an apartment in Newcastle by myself, away from my family, I don't think people can understand. That's hard to do, especially at the age I am and with everything else I've got going on.

"I know for a fact if I'd have gone there I'd have had an amazing time, the lads would have been absolutely brilliant and I'd have buzzed off the stadium, the fans, all that kind of stuff, but the overriding sinking feeling was 'I don't want to do this."

Foster retired last year having kept 94 clean sheets in 390 Premier League appearances, and he was a part of two Premier League-winning and two EFL Cup-winning teams with Man United.

The Englishman also won a third EFL Cup crown with Birmingham City in 2011, playing the full 90 minutes as the Blues defeated Arsenal 2-1 in the final.