Postecoglou handed boost as Napoli end chase for Tottenham misfit who dominated pre-season opener
Giovani lo Celso Tottenham v West Ham
Tottenham could end up keeping hold of a midfielder who looked certain for an exit this summer after Napoli reportedly pulled out of the chase for his signature.
Ange Postecoglou is currently in the middle of assessing the players he has at his disposal in pre-season, with incomings and outgoings inevitable before the summer window shuts.
One of those players who looks likely to be offloaded again is Giovani Lo Celso, who spent last season on loan at Villarreal.
A recent report claimed the Argentine’s entourage have been in talks with reigning Serie A champions Napoli over a move.
However, Italian journalist Ciro Venerato told Tgr Rai, as relayed by Tutto Napoli, that they have now decided to end their chase for the 27-year-old.
“There aren’t the conditions to carry on the negotiation, which is why Napoli are ready to give up on the Argentine,” he said.
It’s reported that Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis wanted to sign the midfielder on a loan deal and this was the only solution he was looking for.
However, Venerato adds that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy wasn’t in favour of this and wanted a straight cash deal to get the player off the books.
Lo Celso‘s former club Real Betis are also interested in bringing him back, although once again they are only keen on a loan.
Levy is said to want around €25million for the Argentina international, which could also be a loan as long as there is an obligation to buy at the end.
Lo Celso shining in pre-season
However, all of that could be a moot point, given that Postecoglou has been impressed by what he’s seen from Lo Celso in pre-season so far.
The midfielder was the best player on the pitch during the second half of the opening pre-season loss to West Ham in Perth.
Playing in a No.10 role, Lo Celso dominated a young Hammers midfield and got on the scoresheet with a well-taken volley.
He certainly showed up more than summer signing James Maddison, who struggled in the same role in the first half of that game. However, that’s harsh given it was the former Leicester star’s first run-out with his new club.
But for Lo Celso, if he continues to flash his ability to Postecoglou over the coming weeks then there is every chance he could earn his place in the Australian’s first-team squad for the new campaign.
Spurs are back in pre-season action on Sunday when they face the Foxes on their Asis tour.
