Tottenham Hotspur: Giovani Lo Celso is a 'top player' says fan
Tottenham are keen on the Argentina international, who has a release clause of £88million in his contract according to Sky Sports.
It is claimed La Liga outfit Betis would be willing to accept £70m, which would smash Spurs’ current transfer record, currently the £42m spent on Davinson Sanchez from Ajax two years ago.
The 23-year-old was excellent on loan from Paris Saint-Germain at Betis last season, with the club having been tempted to exercise a contract clause to make him their second-most expensive signing of all time in April at just shy of £20m.
Lo Celso ended the year with 16 goals and six assists across all competitions as Betis finished in mid-table.
But with the midfielder capable of playing out on the right, where he has been used by Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni at the Copa America in Brazil, Spanish football expert Terry Gibson told Sky Sports’ Transfer Talk podcast that Pochettino must utilise Lo Celso centrally.
That, however, could be dependent on what happens with Christian Eriksen, who is Spurs’ current creator-in-chief.
The Danish international has just 12 months left on his contract and has been linked with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United but could leave this summer if Spurs decide they do not want to lose their first-choice No 10 for nothing in a year’s time.
Yet if Eriksen were to remain at the club, Mauricio Pochettino may face problems fitting all of Lo Celso, Eriksen and Dele Alli - another central attack-minded midfielder - into the same line-up with Spurs’ potential new buy expected to be crucial to the manager's new-look team but Eriksen and Alli both surely too good to start on the bench.
Giovani Lo Celso is a key target for Spurs this summer (Image: GETTY)
Giovani Lo Celso could set Spurs back around £70m (Image: GETTY)
Giovani Lo Celso scored 16 times in 2018-19 for Betis (Image: GETTY)
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He has to be in a central midfield player
Terry Gibson on Lo Celso
Gibson declared: “He would succeed [in the Premier League] because he’s a really good player. It was an amazing piece of business that Betis have done.
“They’re not one of the bigger clubs in Spain. Lo Celso wasn’t wanted at PSG or there wasn’t room so they loaned him to Betis.
“They had an option, it wasn’t an option they had to take, they had the decision at the end of the season to keep him or sign him. There was an option to purchase him at €20m.
“They don’t often spend €20m on a player. So when he had such a good season…
“They found the perfect position for him. He’s a play-maker. I saw him play for Argentina and he played wide on the right in midfield. He was ineffective and looked like a fish out of water.
Tottenham: Giovani Lo Celso could replace Eriksen says Marcotti
Mauricio Pochettino is planning to overhaul his Spurs squad (Image: GETTY)
Giovani Lo Celso only joined Betis on a permanent deal a few months ago after a successful loan (Image: GETTY)
Pochettino currently has Christian Eriksen and Alli as attack-minded midfield options (Image: GETTY)
“He has to be in a central midfield player. His attributes are going forward, he’s a good passer of the ball, he can take people on.
“He hasn’t got a lot of pace to run past people hence why he struggled in a right-wing position for Argentina. But if you get him in central midfield, he can find the pass. He’s a good dribbler and a genuinely top-class footballer.
“Betis knew they could flip him, sell him and make a huge profit. Whether they’re going to get the €80m or €70m they’re valuing him at, I think that’s around the buy-out clause.
“But if they were to get €50m, €60m, that’s an amazing profit for Betis and a great piece of business.”
As Pochettino seeks to transform his Spurs squad, the Argentine coach is also looking to sign Tanguy Ndombele from Lyon, who could cost also become the north London outfit’s record purchase with both clubs confident a deal - which could be in the region of £60m - can be in the coming weeks.