When Tottenham Hotspur decided to sign Giovani Lo Celso on a permanent basis last January, it was done in the hope that the player would improve.
Lo Celso was only on loan at Spurs for the first half of last season and two goals in 20 appearances across all competitions didn’t inspire huge confidence, especially given the fact that he was injured for a while during that time.
But when Christian Eriksen’s move to Inter Milan was announced, so too was the news that Tottenham had exercised their option to sign the former Real Betis man for £27 million.
Fast forward nearly a year and it’s looking like a great piece of business already.
The Argentina international is still something of a fringe player under Jose Mourinho, with two of his eight Premier League outings being from the start, but his performance in last night’s Europa League win over Antwerp illustrates that the Lilywhites have a special talent here.
The 24-year-old was comfortably his side’s best player as the North Londoners marched into the last 32 of the competition as Group J winners.
Not only did he score their second of the night – his fifth goal of the season in all competitions – but Lo Celso was far and away his team’s most lively, energetic player and one who the Belgian side simply couldn’t live with.
Against Arsenal in the North London derby win last week, he played a big role in Tottenham’s second, galloping 40 yards to pick up the pre-assist.
At 24, Lo Celso is going to get so much better – especially under a coach like Mourinho – and for £27 million, the South American is and will prove a bargain in North London.
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