According to Guardian, Tottenham Hotspur have reached an agreement with Real Betis over the transfer of Giovani Lo Celso. The Lilywhites are ready to fork out £55 million for the Argentine international, though BBC claims it’s likely to be a loan deal. Fabrizio Romano, meanwhile, tweeted earlier this morning that Lo Celso has arrived in London and he is on the verge of becoming a Spurs player within the coming hours.
A statistical profile of Giovani Lo Celso
An attacking midfielder by trade, Lo Celso is not an ideal replacement for Christian Eriksen. Unlike the Dane, the Real Betis star relies a lot on his flair and trickery to deceive the opposition. So naturally, the midfielder is blessed with quick-feet that allows him to nestle his way through tight spaces.
This is backed up by statistics as the Argentine completed two successful dribbles per game last season. This is more than any other Real Betis player and is the tenth highest in the league. Also, this is considerably higher than Eriksen’s tally of 0.5 successful dribbles per game last season.
However, the 23-year-old isn’t as productive when it comes to creating chances. He averaged 0.8 key passes per game last season. But, what Lo Celso lacks in chance creation, he more than makes up for it with his ability to augment the midfield and carry the ball across half-spaces. It is, in part, due to his excellent control over the ball.
The ex-PSG star is a threat from long-range as well, with half of his attempts last season coming from outside the box. In addition to that, he attempted 2.4 tackles per game with a success rate of 66%, which is indicative of his willingness to close down the opposition.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
Is Lo Celso a good signing for Spurs?
As mentioned earlier, Lo Celso is not the ideal replacement for Eriksen despite being an attacking midfielder. But, the Argentine can provide much more to the Spurs midfield unit, including his flair and technique, which is coupled with his long-range shooting prowess.
The Real Betis star could form the double-pivot alongside new signing Tanguy Ndombele. And the fact that he is a complete midfielder will allow Dele Alli to retain his preferred attacking midfield role. However, Mauricio Pochettino must offer him the freedom to move forward while assigning a relatively defensive role for Ndombele.
Striking a loan deal could make sense as it remains doubtful whether or not Lo Celso will be able to replicate his performances in the Premier League in this new season. But either way, he is undoubtedly an exciting signing for Spurs.
