Fiorentina director Daniele Prade insists the Serie A club have ‘never talked’ to Tottenham Hotspur regarding a potential £21 million deal for Premier League misfit Giovani Lo Celso, speaking to Tuttomercatoweb.
They do say you cannot make an omelette without breaking some eggs. And Antonio Conte cannot build a truly competitive Spurs team without making the kind of ruthless decisions he is paid so handsomely to make.
Lo Celso, alongside Sergio Reguilon, Harry Winks and Tanguy Ndombele, were left out of Conte’s squad for the pre-season trip to the Far East. And as soon as Tottenham receive an offer that is to their liking for the £21 million-rated Argentina international, he will be on the first flight out of London.
But while Fiorentina have not totally ruled out a move for Lo Celso at this stage, nor are they in any mood to raise expectations.
“We have never talked to Tottenham. Not once,” says Prade, the tough-talking Viola director.
Where will Giovani Lo Celso go with Tottenham keen to sell?
Prade insists that Fiorentina will only be in a position to make a bid for Lo Celso – if indeed they were ever planning to – by selling a couple of players first.
“The player is strong and you know that. (But) we attacked the transfer market early,” he adds. “Now, we have to make some exits. And then, if we are (able to approach Lo Celso), we will evaluate opportunities.
“But we trust in who we have. We are happy with the squad.”
Unai Emery’s Villarreal currently feel like the most obvious destination for Lo Celso. The former Real Betis talisman was a big hit on the Castellon coast during last season’s loan spell; Playing a key role in Villarreal’s stirring, giant-killing run to the semi-finals of the Champions League.
According to Marca, the Yellow Submarine tabled a £13 million loan-to-buy bid last week. One that will fall well short of Tottenham’s demands. And they, like Fiorentina, must sell before they can consider making an offer in the £20 million bracket.
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