Raymond Domenech has told Hugo Lloris to leave Tottenham for a bigger club -- but suggested a transfer to Manchester United would be a sideways move.
The former France manager, who led his country to the 2006 World Cup final and who gave Lloris his international debut two years later, believes the goalkeeper needs to be playing in the Champions League.
But while United, who finished fourth, have a playoff to secure a place in the Champions League group stage and while Lloris has been tipped to replace David De Gea in the United goal if the Spaniard joins Real Madrid, Domenech believes the Spurs captain should set his sights higher and aim for one of the Premier League's top three clubs.
"I have no decision to take for him, but in my opinion he has to play in Chelsea, Arsenal or Manchester City, to play in the European Cup," Domenech told reporters in France.
"Tottenham is a big club -- it is not the biggest. Manchester United qualified for the Champions League, but I can't see really the difference with Tottenham.
"For me, it's Chelsea, Arsenal or Manchester City. Because I think Manchester United is no more a big club, in England, for me. I think like that.
"I think Arsenal will be every time a big club, Chelsea also -- City is becoming a big club -- but I think United is with Tottenham, with the other clubs. Not one of the biggest clubs, so there's no difference.
"For me, he's a great goalkeeper so he needs to be in the best English club, or French, or Italian, or German."
Arsenal have just signed Petr Cech while Thibaut Courtois and Joe Hart are established as the first-choice goalkeepers for Chelsea and City respectively.