Alban Lafont is seen as Hugo Lloris’ natural successor for France after breaking through as a teenager… a host of Premier League clubs are waiting in the wings with Fiorentina ready to cash in on one of Europe’s brightest goalkeeping prospects
- France’s Alban Lafont is seen as the natural successor to Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris
- The 22-year-old is fast creating a reputation for being an excellent shot-stopper
- On loan at Nantes, Lafont is seen as one of the brightest goalkeeping prospects
- Fiorentina will look to cash in on Lafont this summer as they look to raise funds
- A host of Premier League clubs are keeping tabs on the France U21 international
Alban Lafont is already lauded as the natural successor to Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris, but word of his emergence is spreading beyond France.
The athletic goalkeeper was named in France’s strong squad for the European U21 Championships on Monday.
He will start as his country’s No 1 ahead of Leeds United’s Illan Meslier as the group stages kick off next week and will be keenly watched by scouts from across the continent, including the Premier League. Lafont, on loan at Nantes from Italian side Fiorentina, is fast creating a reputation for being an excellent shot-stopper.
Nantes loanee Alban Lafont is being scouted by Europe’s biggest clubs for a summer move
That was underlined further by his outstanding performance last weekend when unfancied Nantes pulled off a surprise 2-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain.
Lafont continually thwarted Mauricio Pochettino’s side with an array of saves frustrating Kylian Mbappe, Angel di Maria et al.
And his form has led parent club Fiorentina to consider cashing in this summer as they look to raise funds following the pandemic. Nantes also have an option to buy him for just £6million.
The 22-year-old is seen as the natural successor to Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris (above) for France
Lafont helped unfancied Nantes pulled off a surprise 2-1 win over PSG last weekend
Lafont first made headlines in 2015 at Toulouse when he became the youngest ever goalkeeper to play in Ligue 1 at the age of just 16 years and 310 days and helped the club avoid relegation with eight clean sheets in 24 games.
He went on to make 106 appearances for Toulouse and attracted interest from Arsenal before being sold to Fiorentina at the age of 19 for £6m in 2018.
Though he initially had some bright moments, the young keeper wanted to leave Fiorentina and the decision was taken to loan him back to Nantes for two seasons.
There he has re-affirmed his status as one of Europe’s brightest goalkeeping prospects and alerted clubs from England, Germany, Spain and Italy in the process.
Fiorentina will be looking to cash in on the athletic goalkeeper this summer to raise funds
Standing at just over 6ft 4ins tall, Lafont started out as an attacking midfielder which may explain his passing skills but, after committing himself to a career in goal, he has followed the styles of former Manchester United keeper Edwin van der Sar and Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer though is arguably more mobile.
He will take his place in goal for Nantes again on Sunday in what could prove a crucial relegation decider against Lorient before starting for France U21s against Denmark next Thursday.
