Giovani Lo Celso tipped to ‘push for an exit’ despite new Tottenham contract development
Tottenham midfielder Giovani Lo Celso could “push for an exit” this summer as he continues to assess his options in North London, according to Alan Hutton.
The 28-year-old has been little more than a bit part player under Ange Postecoglou this season, starting just four games in the Premier League while managing to chip in with two goals and two assits when called upon.
While reports have suggested the Argentina International isn’t happy with his lack of game time in the league this season, there have been some suggestions that Spurs are keen to begin surprise contract negotiations to extend his stay [Football Insider, 3 May].
Although Hutton thinks the Lilywhites’ project under Postecoglou will be tempting for Lo Celso, he believes the midfielder will feel like an outsider in North London and will therefore look for a move this summer.
“He might push for an exit,” Hutton told Tottenham News.
“I think everybody wants to play football week in and week out and I genuinely just don’t see that happening for him so as a player is it basically going to come down to what are your options?
“If he’s got options to go elsewhere where he feels that he’s going to get that game time that’s needed, then I feel that’s something that he’ll look at.
“Yes, Tottenham under the new manager they do play an exciting brand of football and they have changed their whole philosophy and mentality and he’ll probably want to be a part of that.
“But if you’re not regularly playing, you feel like an outsider and I think that’s what he feels at the moment. He doesn’t get the game time that he wants so if it was me, I would be assessing my options.
“Yes, it would be good to know that Tottenham want you there, but he seems to be more of a squad player than a starter there so I would be looking at all my options come the summer.”
Will Giovani Lo Celso leave Tottenham in the summer transfer window?
Postecoglou has a fairly settled midfield at Spurs with Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr tending to start most weeks in the Premier League, with James Maddison typically preferred to play in the number 10 role.
That leaves very little room for Lo Celso to force his way into proceedings. When he has played this term, he has impressed pundits and players alike with his ability in possession, but for whatever reason Postecoglou doesn’t appear to be a fan.
Unless something drastically changes in the final weeks of the season and the 28-year-old begins to feature week in and week out, it seems incredibly unlikely he will be desperate to sign on the dotted line.
Instead, it feels almost set in stone Lo Celso may only have two games left in a Tottenham shirt.
In other Tottenham news, Santiago Gimenez wants a move to Spurs having been spotted at the North London derby
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