OPINION
Tottenham are right to still be keen on Real Betis midfielder Giovani Lo Celso after their latest bid for the player was rejected.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side were said to have tabled a £52.9million bid for the 23-year-old, but according to the Daily Mirrror, the North London club have been knocked back in their approach.
The newspaper adds, however, that Spurs do remain keen on Lo Celso and are prepared to meet a suitable valuation price if it can be agreed with Betis.
And that is the stance which Spurs must take with the midfielder, for he would improve the team’s midfield ten-fold. He scored 16 goals and provided six assists in 46 appearances last season, and has the hallmark of the kind of player who would fit right in at Spurs.
The fact that he is only 23 means he is a player who can be developed by Pochettino, who – as we have all seen – has a stellar track record of developing players in and around that age bracket. In fact, his current team is full of such players, such as Dele Alli and Harry Kane.
Therefore, all the signs suggest that Pochettino and Spurs must do all they can to secure Lo Celso’s services for next season, as he is a midfielder who has the ability to both score himself and set up goals for others.
The question, however, will be how far are the club prepared to go? They have reportedly already had a £50million-plus bid turned down, and with his release clause set at £88million – according to the Mirror – that is a very, very hefty price.
Having said that, the fact that Spurs are said to still be keen on the player and have not given up following their bid being rejected is a step in the right direction.
If Christian Eriksen was to leave North London for Real Madrid this summer, it would become even more imperative that Tottenham sign someone like Lo Celso as a replacement.
Even if the Danish international does not go, remaining keen on Lo Celso is a stance which Spurs must take with the 23-year-old, for he would be a fantastic addition to Spurs regardless, and it would be a killer blow if he was to slip through their fingers.