Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move for Roma goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg as new manager Andre Villas-Boas begins his search for a long-term replacement for Brad Friedel.

The vastly experienced American goalkeeper celebrated his 41<sup>st birthday towards the end of last season and Tottenham are aware that they will need to find a younger keeper to eventually replace Friedel.

Reserve stopper Carlo Cudicin is also coming towards the end of his career at 38-years-old, while Brazilian keeper Huerelho Gomes has indicated that he would like to secure a move away from Tottenham this summer.

Maarten Stekelenburg
Tottenham are believed to be interested in Roma keeper Maarten Stekelenburg [Reuters]

Tottenham do have a younger reserve keeper in David Button but the 23-year-old has never threatened the first team and has been sent on-loan to 11 different clubs in the last four years.

Now the Daily Mail is reporting that Tottenham may be prepared to make an offer to Roma for the keeper who was only signed last summer from Ajax for £5million.

The 29-year-old played 26 league games last season in what was his first campaign outside of Holland after nine seasons at Ajax in which he won two league titles and KNVB Cup on three occasions.

However, there is a belief that Stekelenburg would be prepapred to leave Roma after just one year having seen the manager that signed him to the club, Luis Enrique, get the sack and be replaced by Zdenek Zeman.

The Mail believe that it would take an offer in the region of £8million to prise Stekelenburg away from Roma which would represent good value for a keeper who has made 50 appearances for Holland.

Stekelenburg would not only bring international experience, having played at the last World Cup and at Euro 2012, but he has competed in the Champions League on several occasions with Ajax.

A physically commanding presence at more than 6ft 5, he would certainly be considered a strong addition to the Tottenham squad should they be able to persuade Roma to sell.

One positive for Tottenham is that Stekelenburg is said to be struggling to settle in Italy and may decide that he needs to move closer to home, with London a short flight home to his native Holland.

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