Giovani Lo Celso has been heavily linked with Premier League duo Everton and Spurs – will the midfielder leave La Liga outfit Real Betis?
Liverpool legend Steve Nicol believes Giovani Lo Celso would flop in the Premier League if he joins the likes of Everton or Tottenham Hotspur this summer, speaking to ESPN.
The Argentina international is expected to be on his way out of Real Betis in the next few months, despite only recently joining the La Liga outfit on a permanent basis on the back of a superb loan spell in Spain from Paris Saint-Germain.
El Gol Digital reported that Everton were preparing a £40 million bid to lure Lo Celso to Goodison Park while Tottenham have already seen a £53 million rejected, according to Diario de Sevilla.
But Nicol, who won four First Division titles during a trophy laden spell at Liverpool, has warned any club against making a move for a player who scored 16 goals from midfield in 2018/19.
“This guy’s a nice player to watch. He’s got a nice left foot, he plays some nice passes, he scores some nice goals. But this guy is not cut out for the Premier League,” Nicol said.
“Physically and mentally, I don’t see how he’s tough enough or strong enough to play a (single) season. He is absolutely not the answer in the middle of the field.”
Lo Celso certainly wouldn’t be the only talented midfielder to struggle to make an impression in England despite looking like a playmaker with genuine top-class ability elsewhere. Just look at Juan Sebastian Veron, Alberto Aquilani and 2002 World Cup winner Kleberson.
And with Betis seemingly demanding more than £53 million, he’d be an expensive risk for the likes of Tottenham and Everton.
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