HUGO KEEN ON END TO KANE SAGA
TOTTENHAM captain Hugo Lloris cannot wait for the transfer window to close so they can focus on the new season – with or without Harry Kane.
The striker, a £120million-odd target for today’s opponents Manchester City, had been working on his own under quarantine rules after finally reporting for pre-season eight days ago, five days later than expected.
He returned to the first-team group on Friday and Lloris made clear that, along with making new signings Bryan Gil, Cristian Romero and Pierluigi
Gollini feel at home, resolving the vicecaptain’s situation was a priority.
Lloris said: “Harry is a professional and is here with a smile.
“Obviously, there is a situation in the air, we cannot hide that, but it belongs to him and the club.
“I’m just focused on the team and, if the manager needs him, he will be professional.
“It can happen at any club. The most important thing is to feel the player is professional and respectful to his teammates, and that is completely the case.
“At every club there are players who leave, players who come in and the most important thing is to keep the right energy inside the changing room, to welcome the new signings in the best way and make sure they feel well.
“And then try to make sure everyone is going in the same direction as a team and for sure things will be easier when the transfer market will be closed.”
It has been a summer of change at Spurs with Nuno Espirito Santo coming in as Jose Mourinho’s full-time replacement and Fabio Paratici arriving as managing director of football.
Lloris added: “It’s probably a new era at the club.
“I still remember well when Tottenham faced Nuno’s Wolves, it was always a tough game, a tough team to play against and I’m sure he is going to bring this discipline, this calmness into Tottenham.
“The most important thing today is to rediscover the confidence inside the team after a tough season like the last one and try to build something strong.”
Lloris’s own future is also of concern for Spurs fans, with the keeper in the final year of his contract and free to negotiate with suitors from January.
Asked what he will do next, he said: “I don’t know. There is nothing from the club.
“I’m just calm and relaxed and focused on myself and making sure I’m ready to compete in the first game.
“There’s an excitement to start the new season against the champions and we know we have to start at our best.”