Tottenham Hotspur announce first signing of the summer start new era

After another long wait, Tottenham Hotspur has announced their first signing of the summer, making the official beginning of a new era at N17.

After a long-drawn-out saga over both the new footballing director and new head coach, Tottenham Hotspur finally seems to be on track again. One backup goalkeeper signed on loan is not going to change the club but the start of the new regime is obvious and the announcement of Pierluigi Gollini should be just the first of several arrivals for the Lilywhites. So who is Gollini and what should we expect?

Competition for the Captain

Pierluigi Gollini is a 26-year-old keeper born in Bologna, Italy who has been playing for the up-and-coming Atalanta team for the last four seasons after an initial loan from Aston Villa was successful. In the middle of 2019, Gollini became the number one at Atalanta and carried that mantle until an injury this past season cost him a few games.

Gollini has experience in England. Gollini was in the Manchester United Academy as a teenager and was starting for Villa as a 20-year-old. Unfortunately, things did not quite work out for Gollini as Villa Park and he ended up moving to Serie A and Atalanta, where he eventually took over as number 1.

Gollini is the kind of keeper Tottenham needs

If you spend any time watching highlights of Gollini what you see a player with tremendous reflexes that is willing to use whatever part of his body he can to block the ball. An excellent shot-stopper who likes to come out off his line and cut the angle sounds like the perfect complement to an aging Hugo Lloris.

Whereas Joe Hart had a completely different style and approach to goalkeeping, Gollini seems a younger version of Lloris. Considering Tottenham had been linked with keepers like Sam Johnstone and Nick Pope, personally, I am pleased to see the Spurs sign a  keeper more like Lloris and less like Hart.

While not classified as a sweeper-keeper, Gollini’s ability to close the gap and cut space between attackers and the goal will certainly come in handy with a high defensive line. Gollini is also noted as an excellent passer whose big kicks can help propel the offense into the attack.

Signed on a one-year loan with an option to make the deal permanent according to TottenhamHotspur.com, Gollini is the first signing under new management Paratici and Santo.

We should expect Golllini to be the number 2 and maybe even give Lloris a run for his money at times this season. Now whether or not Gollini wears his preferred number 95 will be a different question.