It seems as if a lot of Spurs fans are hoping that Jose Mourinho will keep hold of Giovani Lo Celso at the end of the season no matter where they finish the league.
It was revealed by the Real Betis vice chairman in Spanish outlet ABC de Sevilla (via TranSPURS), that Spurs have the option to buy Lo Celso in January for €32 million (£27.3 million) or will have to pay a mandatory fee of €40 million (£34.1 million) at the end of the season should they reach the Champions League. If they do not, then the option still remains but there is no obligation to buy the Argentine midfielder.
Lo Celso was brought in on loan by Mauricio Pochettino over the summer but found game time hard to come by after suffering a hip injury on international duty early in the season. There is some concern amongst Spurs fans that following Pochettino’s sacking, the 23-year-old might be sent back to Real Betis by Jose Mourinho; with the Argentinian playing just two minutes of competitive football under the Portuguese manager so far.
Should Spurs exercise their option to buy Lo Celso?
Yes
No
Reaction from Spurs fans to the Lo Celso update can be seen in the tweets below.
One fan even stated that they’d never forgive Daniel Levy, as well as Jose Mourinho, which suggests that this is a deal that simply has to be completed. Of course, Levy splashed the cash on Tanguy Ndombele and Ryan Sessegnon in the summer transfer window, so it remains to be seen as to whether he will want to splash out again, but one thing that looks certain is the fact that Jose Mourinho wants to bring players in.
I’d never forgive Levy, Mourinho or anyone at the club if we let him go… would be idiocy of the highest order
— Ali (@1882AIi) December 3, 2019
For that money, and his age and potential, it’s a steal, a no-brainer. Look at his stats with a mid-table La Liga club. But obviously it will depend on Mourinho, and his personal preference. I pray we keep him, long term he’s a gem.
— grantd49 (@grantd49) December 3, 2019
It’s a steal .
We must keep him.#COYS #THFC— jogender dhankhar (@jogidhankhar) December 3, 2019
€32m still sounds a bargain
— Steve McGrath (@djstevemcgrath) December 3, 2019
I’d take that. It’s win/win either way. If we get CL it’s because he helped us there.
— ap (@otheranthony) December 3, 2019
And because we were struggling, obviously. In a team that plays with confidence he would have been very convincing. He was very good for both PSG and Betis, I don’t see why he couldn’t be for us as well.
— Crescendo (@PtitperePoiroux) December 3, 2019
These Spurs fans are clearly hoping that the club still exercises their option to sign Lo Celso either in January or in the summer.
What do we think?
Lo Celso seemed like a Pochettino player so it is no surprise that he has barely featured under Mourinho so far, although he did impress on a rare start against Red Star Belgrade under the former manager.
It will be interesting to see if Lo Celso features more during the busy Christmas period and if he can do enough to show the new manager he is worth his price tag.
If he doesn’t receive many minutes from here on in then a permanent move could be out of the picture.