Barcelona coach Xavi wants to sign €15m Tottenham outcast
Tom Weber
- Updated: 25 Sept 2023 17:47 BST
- 4 min read
Xavi is keen on Giovani Lo Celso, but Barcelona will face competition for the Tottenham outcast.
The Ange Postecoglou revolution is sweeping away all the moribund remnants of Tottenham's bleak past under Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte. The Australian has breathed new life into a club that has looked on the verge of implosion for several years.
But one man is playing no part in this reinvigoration of the north London side: Giovani Lo Celso. The Argentine returned to Spurs after a one-and-a-half-season loan spell at Villarreal that saw him feature in 51 games and contribute three goals and four assists, but he has thus far only racked up 16 Premier League minutes this term because of fitness issues.
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Despite reportedly impressing his new coach in pre-season, it is becoming increasingly difficult to see a way back for him given how spectacular Tottenham's midfield of James Maddison, Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr has been.
Spurs shelled out €32 million on the Argentine in 2020, but his time at the club appears to be well and truly over. Indeed, already in the summer, there were constant rumours linking him to an exit, yet nothing ultimately materialised.
Nevertheless, January will present a new opportunity for the former PSG man to end his Spurs nightmare and several clubs are keen to sign him, including Barcelona.
Ange Postecoglou:
"Everyone from last week is in a good space [regarding injuries]. In terms of longer ones, two or three weeks away. Bryan Gil, Lo Celso, Bentancur, hopefully over the next few weeks they will slowly get involved in training." pic.twitter.com/EIfNOFbHfh— The Spurs Camp (@TheSpursCamp) September 22, 2023
Xavi still wants him
That Blaugrana head coach Xavi is a long-time admirer of Lo Celso is no secret and LaLiga is his most likely destination, according to Sport. But Barcelona aren't the only side vying for his services.
Real Betis are also very keen on bringing Lo Celso back to the club. Indeed, it was in Seville where he impressed so much that Tottenham decided to sign him after scoring nine goals and recording five assists in LaLiga in 18/19.
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According to the above-mentioned report, the Argentine would command a fee of €15m, but it will be extremely difficult for Barcelona to sign him despite Xavi's admiration. What little Financial Fair Play wiggle room Barcelona will have in January will likely be used to bring in another holding midfielder.
Oriol Romeu was always just a short-term solution to this problem area for Barcelona. Betis' Guido Rodriguez is one option the Blaugrana are looking at and selling him could, in turn, enable the Seville club to bring Lo Celso back.
