Tottenham Hotspur Turn Attention to Maarten Stekelenburg in Goalkeeper Hunt

Thursday, 2nd August, 2012

Tottenham Hotspur have turned their attention to Roma shot-stopper Maarten Stekelenburg as the search to fill their problem position between the sticks continues.

Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas has been scouring the transfer market for another goalkeeper for some time and the English outfit have looked closely at Lyon’s Hugo Lloris and Inter’s Julio Cesar.

Now though, Tottenham’s eyes have settled on Stekelenburg, according to Dutch daily De Telegraaf.

The future of the Holland number 1 is in some doubt in the Italian capital, with suggestions that coach Zdenek Zeman may be willing to part with the 29-year-old for the right price.

Stekelenburg only landed at Roma from Ajax last summer and has thoroughly enjoyed his stint in Italian football so far.

Indeed, the Dutchman told Inside Futbol before Euro 2012 that he feels his time in Serie A has made him a better player.

Asked about his time in Italy, Stekelenburg replied: "The opponents are a lot better than in Holland and personally it is fantastic for me to have a new experience in my career in a foreign country.

"I am sure it makes me a better goalkeeper."

He also took the opportunity to deny multiple reports which had put him on the radar of Tottenham’s rivals Arsenal.

"That’s strange and funny, because I also read it in the newspapers. To be frank though, my manager and I never had any contact with Arsenal."

Now, with the end of the transfer window in sight, Stekelenburg may finally move to England. And his agent has admitted significant interest in his client.

"There are several clubs who have been linked with Maarten", said agent Rob Jansen.

"There may be some large transfers in the final weeks of the transfer window involving big clubs."

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