Tottenham Hotspur are in talks to extend the contract of promising goalkeeper Josh Keeley, according to Football London.
The Tottenham Under-21 star spent last season on loan at League One side Leyton Orient. He was a fantastic signing for Orient and enjoyed a breakout campaign.
The 22-year-old shot stopper kept 16 clean sheets in the English third division but the highlight of his campaign came in the FA Cup as he helped Orient skip past Oldham Athletic in the second round.
Keeley scored a dramatic header in the last minute of the game to send the tie into extra-time. He then produced another fantastic display in the fourth round against Manchester City.
Orient ultimately succumbed to a 2-1 defeat but Keeley held his own against a star-studded City side.
He also helped Orient reach the League One Play-Off Final but they fell just short against Charlton Athletic at Wembley Stadium.
It didn’t take long before Keeley received his first call-up to the Republic of Ireland senior squad.
His performance against City drew praise from Pep Guardiola. “We were lucky at the end because they had chances,” he said. “But we created a lot, their keeper was really, really good and it was a tight game.”
Keeley’s confidence and growing maturity have made him one of the most talked-about young goalkeepers in English football.
He commands the box and reads the game well, and his performances on loan haven’t gone under the radar, with Spurs now ready to reward him with a new contract.
However, the Irishman will struggle to break into Totteham’s first team with Guglielmo Vicario, Antonin Kinsky, and Brandon Austin ahead of him in the pecking order.
His non-homegrown status will also make it difficult for him to be registered for the Champions League.
However, Spurs believe he has what it takes to become a top goalkeeper and are considering sending him out on another loan spell after getting him to sign a new deal.