Hugo Lloris' new contract is next step in building feel-good factor at Spurs

Longevity is a much sought after commodity in football.

In a world where players are often seen as placeholders for just a season or two, having a club stalwart approaching their tenth year at a club is beyond valuable.

With Hugo Lloris' contract extension at Tottenham, the club now has a goalkeeper still performing at close to their prime level and one who has been remarkably consistent and reliable since he joined in 2012.

Of the Premier League's top six goalkeepers, only Manchester United's David de Gea has made more appearances for his respective club than Lloris for Spurs. For a side that hasn't always been particularly solid in recent years, the Frenchman's presence has been as reliable as ever, and his new contract means Tottenham can focus on improving other areas of the squad.

If you watched the Leicester win in midweek, you will have seen the length-of-the-pitch run Lloris went on to join his teammates in the marvellous scenes following Steven Bergwijn's late double in the 3-2 victory.

There is a greater feel-good factor at the club now in comparison to the sorry state of affairs at the start of November, when all hope seemed lost as Nuno Espirito Santo toiled during his brief stay in north London.

However, with Antonio Conte going unbeaten in his first nine Premier League games to boost Tottenham's prospects of Champions League qualification, the mood among fans and most probably reciprocated in the first team squad is one of optimism. Lloris himself has said he wants to get back into Europe's elite club competition, adding "we’re going to make something important for the club" with the new manager.

Conte has come in and seen just how important Lloris is to this Spurs side. The Italian was pivotal in these recent contract discussions, having been impressed by the goalie's recent form.

To have the club captain - yes, club captain, it's never been Harry Kane on a permanent basis - put his trust in the process for another few years having been through the highs and lows of the Mauricio Pochettino, Jose Mourinho and Santo regimes is a massive win for Tottenham.

Now, for Tottenham, it's about repaying that show of faith from Lloris and making sure he finishes his career in England with a tangible taste of success, having come so close in the Premier League, League Cup and Champions League over the years.

For quick improvement and success, they have the perfect manager. Conte has stressed that managing Tottenham will not be a quick fix, but he has already shown since joining in November that he can take Spurs up the table and have them compete with some of the country's top teams.

Quite frankly, that's the standard Lloris deserves, having spent his prime years in north London without the silverware to show for it. Even when Pierluigi Gollini signed on loan in the summer, it started to look like Tottenham were planning for life without Lloris. However, if anything the Atalanta loanee's arrival has brought a new level of performance from the World Cup winner, a run of form which has come at exactly the right time.

Tottenham have a genuine chance of finishing in the top four this season, with doubts over West Ham's stamina, Arsenal not quite the finished product and Manchester United looking ropey at the best of times.

With Lloris at the back and his future confirmed for the next few years, Spurs have the solid foundation they need at the back to go alongside the similar structure and strength Conte has and will continue to bring.

Lloris has been brilliant for Spurs since his arrival from Lyon in 2012. Now it's time for the club to reshape their squad and give their captain the best possible chance of picking up some silverware before his career comes to an end.

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