Tottenham refuse to be daunted by Arsenal link to France international

Tottenham are thought to have reacted with calmness to rumours that Arsenal are also interested in one of their primary summer transfer targets, the Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

Spurs are of the opinion that their rivals have no interest in replacing Poland international Wojciech Szczesny and that the speculation is a ploy from Arsene Wenger and Lyon boss Remi Garde, a former Arsenal defender, to drive up the price.

The Ligue 1 side, who are preparing for their first season without Champions League football this century, face a fight to keep hold of France’s Euro 2012 captain, who has asked to leave, but they are demanding £16 million for the 25-year-old.

Tottenham are reportedly unwilling to go beyond £13 million and are notoriously stubborn negotiators, the likelihood being that they will hold out until late in the window in the hope that Lyon’s resistance will be broken.

However, they are under no pressure to sell, a recently signed contract extension committing him to the club until 2015, so Spurs might have to compromise to complete a deal, with Jean-Michel Aulas recently rating the chances of him staying at 99%.

Andre Villas-Boas has played down the necessity of recruiting a new shot-stopper, stating that: “The search for a goalkeeper at the moment is a non-search because we have three top goalkeepers and we have David Button coming through and wanting to join a group of three excellent goalkeepers.”

There may be an element of bluff to that claim though as Carlo Cudicini is being strongly linked with a move to Watford and Brad Friedel has said that he is under no illusion that a new long-term number one will be sought at some point.

The American custodian is 41 and has hinted that this could be his last campaign before retiring. He is 19/10 to end it with Spurs in a top-four position once again.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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