Game over for Tottenham transfer as rejected bid sees plug pulled on disgruntled star
A mooted transfer between Tottenham and Barcelona has fallen through, with Ange Postecoglou now saddled with an issue he may actually relish solving, per a report.
Reliable Spanish journalist, Gerard Romero, recently reported Barcelona had contacted the camp of Giovani Lo Celso. The Argentine was viewed as an alternative to Bernardo Silva who has eluded Barca once again amid talk of an imminent new contract at Man City.
Per additional reporting from Spain, Lo Celso was open to the move amid an apparent broken promise made by Postecoglou.
It was claimed the Australian had promised Lo Celso he’d feature heavily if retained in north London this season. However, two matches have passed without Lo Celso coming on off the bench.
Now, according to a fresh update from Sport, Barcelona lodged a loan proposal for the 27-year-old. Per the outlet, Tottenham turned the bid down.
That is likely to spell the end of the pursuit, with the report declaring the operation is ‘practically dead’. Only an ‘unexpected turn in the last hours of the market’ will see Lo Celso to Barcelona revived.
Spurs are reportedly only willing to axe Lo Celso via the permanent route. Romero claimed Tottenham’s price tag is around £21.3m, while Sport claimed Barcelona could’ve succeeded if lodging a far more modest bid in the region of £8.6m-£12.6m.
However, Barcelona are currently incapable of affording a permanent deal and the same is true of Lo Celso’s other primary suitor from Spain – Real Betis.
As such, the Argentine looks destined to remain in north London where his mood is unlikely to improve if he continues to warm the bench. With no European football this season, that avenue to minutes on the pitch is also closed.
However, retaining Lo Celso isn’t exactly the worst problem in the world for Postecoglou to inherit.
Indeed, Sport state Postecoglou will gladly utilise Lo Celso as a rotation player in the event his frontline starters need a rest or pick up injuries.
If the recent displays of Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma are anything to go by, Lo Celso faces an uphill struggle to force his way into Postecoglou’s plans beyond being a depth piece.
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