Tottenham Hotspur may not actually be any closer to signing Giovani Lo Celso.
According to the Daily Record, Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a €60million (£54.8million) fee for Real Betis playmaker Giovani Lo Celso – but that’s not what claims in Spain suggest.
The Record’s Duncan Castles claims that Spurs have finally agreed a deal for the Argentinian, with €52million (£47.5million) up front and the rest in add-ons.
That would be a major boost for Spurs after months of attempting to sign Lo Celso, but any excitement will be tempered by claims in Spain – just hours after the reports of an agreed deal.
ABC de Sevilla report that Betis have been left ‘upset’ by Tottenham’s attempts to sign Lo Celso as they continue to bid way below their asking price, and have now broken off negotiations completely.
They’ll now listen to what Atletico Madrid and Napoli have to over, though it is added that it may simply be a strategy to get Tottenham to pay up so close to the English transfer deadline.
This source will be close to Betis, certainly closer than the Record are to either club, so we’re inclined to believe the latter report – and the notion that it’s just a ploy to get Spurs to pay up.
There has been a major gap in valuations all summer long, and with Spurs having until Thursday to tie up a deal, Betis know what they can attempt to pressure Tottenham into a deal.
The next few days will show which report is correct, but Spurs need to get serious quickly if they want the 16-goal playmaker signed up, though Sporting’s Bruno Fernandes is emerging as a quality alternative.
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