According to Mirror, Tottenham Hotspur are finally ready to break the bank this summer. After their £53 million bid for Giovani Lo Celso was rejected, the Lilywhites are now set to make an improved bid for the Real Betis midfielder.
The report claims that Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is unwilling to meet the Argentine’s reported release clause of £88.9 million. But, it is believed that he could shatter the club’s record transfer fee of £42 million they paid to sign Davinson Sanchez in 2017.
What can Lo Celso bring to the table?
Lo Celso is regarded as one of Europe’s most sought-after midfielders after a remarkable season with Real Betis last term. The 23-year-old scored nine goals and provided five assists in 32 matches, helping the Beticos finish tenth in the league table.
As far as gameplay is concerned, Lo Celso is a technically gifted midfielder, whose exquisite control over the ball coupled with his remarkable balance helps him get past defenders. He has completed 63 successful dribbles – more than any other central midfielder in the league.
His nifty footwork also allows him to nestle through tight spaces while his excellent passing range enables him to quickly find teammates in the final third and thereby, initiate an attack.
Defensively, Lo Celso is keen on winning back possession for his team, having averaged 1.6 tackles per game. He is not very good at reading the game, but he often likes to track back and help out the defence when needed. However, the Argentine is mostly known for his attack-minded nature as he loves to venture forward and create opportunities in the final third.
Where does Lo Celso fit in at Tottenham?
The addition of Lo Celso might not make total sense for Spurs unless Christian Eriksen departs North London this summer. The Dane was linked with a move to Real Madrid this summer. But, it seems like the ex-Ajax playmaker is now willing to listen to contract extension offers from Tottenham.
Besides, the Lilywhites boast the services of Dele Alli. Hence, the addition of Lo Celso would unnecessarily stack the attacking midfield department. Instead, Mauricio Pochettino should shift their attention towards the signing of a more defensive minded or all-round midfielder.
Someone like Tanguy Ndombele or Youri Tielemans, for instance, could be better fitted to Spurs’ needs at the moment as they look to compete for the Premier League title next season.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
