Giovani Lo Celso hasn’t exactly lit up the Premier League since his arrival at Spurs from Real Betis in 2019, but despite what the statistics tell you, it is obvious the quality is there.
He has shown flashes of brilliance throughout his stint in North London, which has been plagued by various injuries and spells out of the team when others around him have been more in form.
Messi: "Without Lo Celso, the journey to the final wouldn't have been possible"
Underrated. pic.twitter.com/2VpdvJxvSX
— The Source™ (@SecretPrem) July 7, 2021
However, his time with Argentina at the Copa America this Summer has been a very productive one for the former PSG midfielder, who even earned praise from Lionel Messi after producing one of the passes of the tournament through to the elite attacker who squared for Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez to put in the back of the Colombian net.
It’s not the first time Messi and Lo Celso have linked up for their country and it won’t be their last, but they could also be linking up for club next season too with Barcelona reportedly interested in permanently signing the Spurs midfielder.
https://twitter.com/FDJChief/status/1412579451146227713?s=20
With him not being used too frequently last season and a difficult route into the starting line-up ahead of him, particularly if Nuno deploys a 4-4-2 formation, it could be a sensible move for Spurs to cash in on the former PSG playmaker.
It’s not yet clear how much Barcelona would be willing to pay, but anywhere up from £40 million would be the likely sum that Daniel Levy would demand for the 25-year-old.
However, the Catalan giants still have financial issues of their own, with them needing to clear over €200,000 a week of wages off their salary bill before they can register their new players, and a move for Lo Celso seems unlikely at this stage.
Despite Barca’s interest, Spurs fan favourite and compatriot Ossie Ardiles believes Lo Celso can still become a key player in the team next season.
🗞[@FichajesNet] | Barcelona are interested in signing Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Giovani Lo Celso this summer.
🇦🇷Lo Celso fits the criteria for Barcelona as they search for a new attacking midfielder, with his past experience in La Liga.#THFC #COYSpic.twitter.com/EEiL4HgnCT
— Last Word On Spurs (@LastWordOnSpurs) July 13, 2021
“Gio had a very good tournament,” Ardiles said.
“At the beginning he wasn’t playing so much, but he ended one of the starters, and I’m very happy for him and that is very good news for Spurs as well because he will come back with a lot of confidence. This will mean a lot.
“The pace of the game in England is quicker, much more difficult, for example in South America, you have more time on the ball, more time to think, you don’t get that in the Premier League.
Mourinho Masterclass… 🤝
Less than a minute after coming on, super sub Giovani Lo Celso fires Spurs two goals ahead!
📺 Watch on Sky Sports PL
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“Having said that, Giovani has adjusted very well to the Premier League and in a lot of ways he’s been unlucky, he had an injury when he first arrived playing for Argentina and later on, he had to deal with some tricky injuries. Fingers crossed, he will be important for us next season.”
With pre-season already started, it’s unlikely we will see Lo Celso until the last pre-season friendlies or the start of the next season, which kicks off for us a month tomorrow at home to Manchester City.