Tottenham Transfer Rumors: Brad Friedel Could Leave Spurs for Blackburn

Tottenham are about to make way for Hugo Lloris to be their permanent first-choice keeper with the departure of Brad Friedel, expected in January.

The Daily Mail is reporting that Friedel will return to Ewood Park to join Championship side Blackburn Rovers, who were relegated from the EPL last season.

The proposed deal would bring Friedel to the club on loan until January and then the American would move to Blackburn on a permanent basis beginning in January.

Friedel was the top keeper at Blackburn for eight seasons—from 2000-08—and new manager Henning Berg is not only ready to offer the 41-year-old a spot in the squad, but a spot on the coaching staff as well.

This past summer, Tottenham brought in French international Hugo Lloris as a long-term replacement at the position, but Friedel kept his starting spot for most of the early part of the season.

Lloris has begun to state in the media that his time at Spurs since moving from Lyon has been difficult because he has not been the first choice at the position like he was at his former club and is for the French national team.

The 25-year-old Frenchman has had more opportunities to win the competition at goalkeeper in the past month, including his impressive match against Lazio in the Europa League on Thursday.

Lloris earned his first start in the EPL against Aston Villa on October 7th, a start that ended Friedel's streak of 310 consecutive starts in the league which began during the 2003-04 season when Friedel played at Blackburn.

Friedel's return to Ewood Park may be not be that easy, as Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas and chairman Daniel Levy are reluctant to let the experienced goalkeeper leave White Hart Lane.   

Friedel was signed by Spurs last season from Aston Villa and he started all 38 matches last season, to go along with the 10 he has started this season for the North London club.

If Friedel were to leave the club, Spurs would still have three keepers on the roster with Carlo Cudicini and Heurelho Gomes behind Lloris on the depth chart.