Contract rescission beckons for Arsenal and Tottenham target
Published:With Brad Friedel hinting that this could be his last season before retiring, Tottenham have reportedly been searching for a new goalkeeper this summer, with their attempts to sign Hugo Lloris frustrated by a restrictive £16 million asking price.
Luckily for the Lilywhites, another shot-stopper whose situation they have been tracking could be about to enter the market on a free transfer, as Inter step up their attempts to rid themselves of their former number one Julio Cesar.
The Brazil international has been first choice at the San Siro for seven years, however his stock has slipped slightly over the last few years and his exit has been an inevitability since they decided to buy Udinese’s highly regarded Samir Handanovic.
Inter initially hoped to recoup a fee for the 32-year-old, once a serious candidate to succeed Edwin van der Sar at Manchester United, but a move to Roma failed to materialise and now they are likely to prioritise simply removing him from the wage bill.
They have already rescinded the contracts of other highly-paid 30-somethings this window, with Lucio leaving for Juventus and Diego Forlan heading to Internacional, so it is clearly an avenue that they are willing to consider.
His departure is expected to be hastened on Friday by the revelation that he isn’t in Inter’s Europa League squad. The same fate apparently awaits striker Giampaolo Pazzini, though Maicon will be included despite being rumoured to have told the club that he refuses to play in the competition.
Tottenham won’t be the only Premier League side chasing Cesar if he is released, with Arsenal also mentioned as potential suitors. His chances of regular action are probably stronger at Spurs, who are 19/10 to finish in the top four next season.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
