Giovani Lo Celso could push through Tottenham transfer exit to Barcelona in January – Sky Sports pundit
We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium…
Paul Robinson believes a possible exit to Barcelona for Giovani Lo Celso is something that could happen if the player pushes for it, despite Tottenham not wanting to lose people.
Camp Nou boss Xavi wants to sign the midfielder in January according to Sky Sports (11 December) after an injury to Gavi, and Robinson admits it is a “tough one to turn away” for Spanish players when either Barca or Real Madrid come calling.
The Sky Sports pundit doesn’t expect Ange Postecoglou to be willing to let anyone go in the winter window unless he is sure of replacements, having had to deal with an extensive selection crisis brought on by injuries and suspensions, but thinks it rests on what the 27-year-old’s ambitions are.
Speaking to Tottenham News Robinson said: “I don’t think Tottenham would be willing to sell anybody in January who is close to the fringes of the first team, simply because of the squad size, unless the manager gets other players in.
“Lo Celso, for me, is a player that I like. Last year I was surprised that they let him leave on loan. He showed that he had defensive capabilities as well as going forward.
“When he came I think a lot of people thought, including myself, that he was an attacking wide left player, an attacking winger with assists and goals.
“Actually he played holding midfield at times last year and he showed that he had some real resilience and was a tough-tackling, combative midfielder. So he’s got more to his game than just going forward.
“The Spanish thing always rears its head with Real Madrid and Barcelona doesn’t it? If you’re a Spaniard and you want to play in your home country and Barcelona or Real Madrid come knocking it’s a tough one to turn away.
“It’s a deal that I could see happening if the player pushed it. I can’t see Tottenham wanting to sell. They don’t need to sell.
“If the squad was deeper and they were further down the line to the end of the season then it may be a deal that the club would look at, but I think it will come down to the player’s ambition and his want to play in Spain or the Premier League.”
Lo Celso’s Spurs career looked to be coming to an end sooner rather than later after he was sent on loan to Villarreal last season, and then barely featured for the opening weeks of the season.
But two goals in a run of starts showed his use to Postecoglou, and with his contract not set to expire for two summers it is not the last chance for the club to get a fee for him.
In other Tottenham news, a crucial part of the Spurs line up has been branded a “liability” thanks to the unwanted guarantee he has provided.